I always lose my routine in the summer and even more so this year with the good weather and all the distractions it brings. It helps to see the odd poem or story going into print now and then, while you fail to organise yourself and your time sufficiently to start work on that great new project you’ve been meaning to tackle for months.
I was delighted to be shortlisted for the Fermoy Poetry Competition this summer. It was judged by Noel King, poet and founder and editor of Doghouse Books. The ultimate winner was Michael Farry, a great poet and longtime champion of other poets through his work as editor of Boyne Berries. It was a bonus to learn that my poem Earthbound is to be included in the Blue Max Review anthology which is due to be launched at the Fermoy International Poetry Festival this Friday 2nd August.
This weekend also the iYeats online national and international poetry competition is celebrating its fifth year on 3/8/13. To celebrate ALOUD will present an intimate evening of original poetry from a selection of eminent past judges – Gerald Dawe, Enda Wyley, Niall Mc Monagle, Katie Donovan, James Harpur among others, and the 2013 winners. I was invited to attend, having been highly commended in 2011 and 2012, but unfortunately I won’t be able to make it along.
Back in July my story The Bullfight was featured in Issue 4 of Roadside Fiction. This is a great realist web zine edited by John Campbell. It’s well worth taking the time to check through their back issues- some great stories and photography in there. There’s a recent and interesting interview with John at Writing.ie here also.
I was also very pleased to learn the other day that my story When the future happens will be published in Issue 2 of the Lakeview International Journal of Literature and Arts. Jose Varghese is the Chief Editor and Mel Ulm of the Reading Life fame is an associate editor also. It’s wonderful to think I might be gaining a readership as far away as India. Issue 2 will appear in August and it also features my good friend and great writer Valerie Sirr also. I’ll post a link later in the month.
Good work, Brian! And thanks for the mention – am delighted to feature with you in Lakeview
Can’t wait to read your story Valerie!
Wow Brian – what an amazing list of achievements! You deserve your summer break, and afterwards, you will return to the writing with even more zeal than before!
Thanks Louise – looking forward to your launch this week!
Congratulations on everything, Brian! I know, it’s lovely to see the bits of good news trickle in–keeps us going. Well done.
Yea, Connie – it all helps. Congrats again on your win at Listowel. It was lovely to meet up!