There’s a lot of fantasy out there when it comes to women warriors, particularly where it relates back to those in the Irish or Celtic realm. To be fair, the subject is hardly a new one. Since the development of literature itself, writers and readers have been enamoured by tales of fighting women (particularly Herodotus… Read more »
Souvenirs from Ireland – Battle of the Books
Every time I come back from Ireland it’s a ‘Battle of the Books’ in terms of permitted baggage weight on international flights. I suppose the only good thing is that its something of a natural restriction to excess reading. This is a selection of the books I carried in my bag (but not all) last… Read more »
Fierce Times at the Black Fort (Irish mythology)
We did some exploring around Na hÁrainneacha (the Aran Islands) for a few days this month, carrying out research on a number of the prehistoric fortresses and hoping to get a few photos that we could work into future covers for the Fionn mac Cumhaill series. Most people tend to associate the islands with the… Read more »
Love on the Aran Islands
The attached photo will be the cover shot for Irish Imbas Books’ exciting new range of romantic and erotic novels under the brand “Love on The Aran Islands”. Titles include: First Touch at Killronan (Cill rónáin) Fast Times at the Dark Fort Fierce Goings On at Dún Aonghasa Forty Shades of Bungolwa Hot Sweats in Innisheer… Read more »
Entering the Irish Otherworld (Irish Mythology)
ENTERING THE IRISH OTHERWORLD I went to explore one of the more famous entrances to the Irish Otherworld yesterday. A fascinating experience I’ll be using at some stage in one of my books. Expect a post on this in the newsletter.
Broody Days in the Galway Gaeltacht
Broody days in the Galway Gaeltacht under skies like a mottled bruise. I’m travelling around Ireland at the moment, catching up with old friends and family and doing a lot of research. Some of my travels took me up through the Galway Gaeltacht – a place I haven’t been in a long time. I couldn’t… Read more »
HURRAY! I THINK I WON SOMETHING (ah, crap! No, I didn’t)
Earlier this year I entered a competition (initiated by author Mark Lawrence – of ‘Prince of Thorns’ fame) called the ‘Self-Publishing Fantasy Blog Off 2016’. This basically sees three hundred self-published and small-publisher fantasy books assessed by ten different speculative fantasy book review bloggers and … (well, yes. A bit difficult to explain and I… Read more »
Sentinels in An Irish Doorway
It’s always the little things that get you. Wandering in from the yard back in Cork yesterday, this cluster of wooden sentinels triggered a twinge of emotion as I recalled playing hurling myself as a kid. I was never a particularly gifted player but there really is no sport like it in the world (in… Read more »
Judges’ Submission Tips From the 2015 Celtic Mythology Short Story Competition
In September 2015, we initiated our inaugural Celtic Mythology Short Story Competition. At the time, the plan was to publish a compilation that included the best of the submitted stories but also some explanatory commentary (in terms of the mythology/folklore aspects covered in the stories). This was, we figured, an effective means, not only of… Read more »
The Celtic Mythology Short Story Collection 2016
It gives us immense pleasure to announce the launch of the 2016 IRISH IMBAS CELTIC MYTHOLOGY SHORT STORY COMPETITION . Submissions will be accepted for this competition from 1 September 2016 to 10 December 2016. This is the second year that we’re holding this competition and we’re coming into it a little wiser, a little… Read more »
Update on Forthcoming Productions
Yes, its that time of year again when we give some indication of where things are at on the (cough, cough) ‘production line’. Fionn: the Adversary (Fionn mac Cumhaill Series: Book 4): It’s been something of a frustrating month with this book. Although I’ve been working quietly on the various scenes, given its burgeoning length… Read more »
Interview on Irish Mythology And Folklore
It’s been something of a hectic June here in Wellington this year but I did manage to fit in an interview with Capital Irish Radio (based here in the city). Capital Irish Radio are a volunteer-run group who produce a weekly, 28 minute programme for Irish people (I occasionally present a show – about 2/3… Read more »