Ain’t she pretty?
My short story ‘The Swimmers’ is in here alongside these wonderful writers – Darren Anderson, Kevin Barry, Jan Carson, Jill Crawford, Wendy Erskine, Nicole Flattery, Yan Ge, Sinead Gleeson, David Hayden, Arja Kajermo, Eimear McBride, Lisa McInerney, Belinda McKeon, Adrian McKinty, Danielle McLaughlin, Peter Murphy, Stuart Neville, Louise O’Neill, Sheila Purdy, Elske Rahill, Sally Rooney and Kit de Waal.
Edited by Lucy Caldwell, published by Faber.
Out May 1.
And they’re off…
Heading out into the world for review are the proofs for the ‘Common People’ anthology edited by Kit de Waal. I’m delighted to have written my first piece of memoir alongside these wonderful writers…
Contributors Include:
Damian Barr
Malorie Blackman OBE
Lisa Blower
Jill Dawson
Louise Doughty
Stuart Maconie
Chris McCrudden
Lisa McInerney
Daljit Nagra
Dr Dave O’Brien
Cathy Rentzenbrink
Anita Sethi
Adelle Stripe
Tony Walsh
Alex Wheatle
The anthology is out to buy in May 2019.
A very short story from me for Christmas in The Irish Times today – ‘Malibu Barbie Christmas’. I hope you enjoy it.
“Síofra wiggles, which is not a good sign as she’s started to wet the bed since the night she told them all to call her Baby Síofra again. Fintain sticks his hand under her bum. Dry as a bone.
“Good girl,” he says, like he’s proper Daddy.
“I’m holding it in for Santa,” says she.”
Head over for a 5 minute read.
My interview with The Man Booker Prize-winner Anna Burns is up on Irish Times Books today.
In it, she reveals to me her struggle with constant pain and her fears about ever being able to write again.
Well, it’s getting close. You can get your hands on this in May 2019.
Lucy Caldwell has edited an anthology of Irish short stories, Being Various, and I was commisioned to take part.
Just look at the line-up!
Mine is the second story and I’ve been sent it to proof. Now, I’ve got a couple of little changes – a word here and there – time can bring to the surface some stumbling sentences or words that stand out and tenses that shifted. But I’ve also had second thoughts about the title. Not sure if I can change but I’ll find out soon enough.
I’m excited because I think it’s one of the best stories I’ve written. I would need to feel that being alongside – Darren Anderson, Kevin Barry, Jan Carson, Jill Crawford, Wendy Erskin, Nicole Flattery, Yan Ge, Sinead Gleeson, David Hayden, Arja Kajermo, Eimear McBride, Lisa McInerney, Belinda McKeon, Adrian McKinty, Danielle McLaughlin, Peter Murphy, Stuart Neville, Louise O’Neill, Sheila Purdy, Elske Rahill, Sally Rooney and Kit de Waal.
I’ll let you know more news as I find out.
I wrote about the books I’ll be giving and hoping to get this Xmas over in The Irish Times if you fancy having a look.
What are yours?
Literary journal Reading Ireland is a shining a spotlight on me in its next issue and is available to subscribers December 2018. Looking forward to seeing it, to find out about all these wonderful writing neighbours but mostly to see what they’ve written about ME! I love a spotlight from back in my theatre days 😉
To subscribe to Reading Ireland visit www.readingireland.net.
I’ll be speaking and teaching at Stockholm Writers Festival next year. You can check out the schedule here.
I’ll be heading over to India to speak at Jaipur Book Mark before attending ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival in January. Looking forward to working with Namita Ghokhale again.
Thanks to Arts Council Northern Ireland for their support with this trip.
Paul McVeigh 