Free Bookmarks & Brochures for City Reads
I can’t wait get my hands on these. They’ll be given out free around Brighton, as of next week, until the end of May.
The Good Son
A Short TV Appearance About City Reads
A short piece on Latest TV about The Good Son being chosen for City Reads Brighton 2016.
Irish Newspapers Respond to City Reads Announcement
The Belfast Telegraph article and The Irish Times news report on The Good Son being chosen for the Brighton’s City Reads 2016.
Just 2 Places Left for Sat Feb 6
Just two places left for my class this Saturday Feb 6 in the beautiful Waterstones Piccadilly, London. Come to the biggest bookshop in Europe and learn about starting your novel off and getting those all important first killer chapters ready for submission to editors and agents. I’ll be joined by literary agent Carrie Kania who will be giving her tips too!
You can buy your tickets here.
The Good Son Chosen for Brighton’s City Reads
A few years ago I moved to Brighton. To get to know the city and throw myself back into writing I volunteered for a project called City Reads. The city-wide celebration of My Policeman by Bethan Roberts was so much fun. I gave out fliers, asked shops to put up posters, collected tickets on city walks and even acted in a play!
All those events were related to the book and I was struck by the inventiveness of City Reads and what an amazing job they did bringing the book to life.
Who would have thought that 4 years later it would be my book that would be chosen? You couldn’t write it. I’m overwhelmed. You can see the programme of events here. I can’t wait to get stuck in. There’s whiskey tasting, movie screenings, a quiz – and readings from me. That it will part of The Brighton Festival’s 50th anniversary is amazing.
Have a great day! I know I will.
Winner of The McCrea Literary Award
My old university has awarded me The McCrea Literary Award. Such a lovely thing to receive. The last time I won an award was ‘super duper swimmer’ in primary school.
I know its a big world out there and this is a small award but luckily my world is a small one and I’m very happy.
BBC Open Book Mentions The Good Son
BBC Radio 4’s Open Book has Lisa McInerney discussing religion in the modern Irish novel. Her segment starts around 10.27 minutes and its a great listen – not just because ‘The Good Son’ gets a good mention in some fine company.
N Ni Chonchuir, Sarah Clancy, Lisa McInerney at our reading in Kinvara recently.
The Good Son Audio Book is Here
Last year I went into a recording studio in north London to read The Good Son. I had to audition (well, do a sound/voice test) beforehand and the powers that be gave me the thumbs up. It wasn’t quite what I expected (me having a laugh reading my book!). It was hard work. I’d recommend trying anything once but I’d have a good long think before doing it again because…
Reading The Audio Book
There are definitely pros and cons to reading your own book – for you and the listener. I’d say the main pros are that you feel in control of the material- that you are giving the listener what you intended when you wrote it – and they are getting insights into the text they may not have picked up on.
I think the cons are that quite soon you realise your limitations – not being someone with experience/ability in this platform. If you have 5 characters speaking in one page, are you really good enough to differentiate between them? If not, the listener won’t know which character is speaking until the end of the dialogue when you’ve assigned a name. You don’t want them stumbling, you want them seduced by the story. Also, often an actor can bring something out of the text that you hadn’t seen (just like when you’ve written a play). As writers, we are not always aware of what we are doing. Actors can also add a layer of subtly that you, no matter how good you are as a reader of your work, don’t have the training or talent to do as a performer.
I enjoy reading my work and I think the audio book will really help to bring The Good Son to life. The added bonus for the listener is, as the story is set in Northern Ireland and has some of the vernacular, the delivery can help with the understanding. I can’t wait to hear some feedback. Be gentle. It’s my first time.
The New Cover
You can buy the audio book over at Audible. You can even listen to a free sample. I hope you enjoy it.
The Good Son Best of 2015
The Good Son makes another Best of 2015 list – this time from author and book blogger Lindsay Bamfield. Thanks Lindsay.
That makes 2015 quite a year from my debut novel which was…
Shortlisted for The Guardian’s ‘Not The Booker’ Prize.
An ELLE Magazine Best Books of 2015.
The Irish Independent Top Reads of 2015.
One of The Reading Agency Staff Picks Best of 2015.
Wales Arts Review – Fiction of the Year.
A Gransnet Best Christmas Read for 2015.
Savidge Reads and Pam Reader Blogs Books of the Year.
Here’s what Lindsay said: “I’d read about Paul’s debut novel on his blog as well as number of terrific reviews. I was attending the No The Booker event at Big Green Bookshop, so intended to buy a copy. After hearing Paul read an extract I was well and truly hooked. An original and authentic voice that took me there, to Belfast in the 80s, spending a troubled summer with Mickey – wanting him so very much to achieve what he hoped for.”
If you fancy a copy then about the only place with any first print editions left is Waterstones online. Alternatively, you can buy the e-reader edition at Salt. The new print will be available mid-March.
Thanks everyone and hope your new year is going well.
The Good Son in Top 12 of 2015 Pam Reader Blog
Thanks to Pam Reader for including The Good Son in her Top 12 Novels of 2015 list on her fantastic blog. A lovely way to start the year.
“If you choose to invest in The Good Son, you can do so in the knowledge that you are in the hands of an accomplished storyteller. Prepare to laugh and cry as Mickey Donnelly takes hold of your heart and never lets it go until the last page.”
