In honour of St. Patrick's Day, John Dwyer's lastest book Klondike House - Memories of an Irish Country Childhood is FREE to upload on Kindle on March 15, 16 and 17. The paperback will follow in another four weeks.
Klondike House on Amazon.com
Klondike House on Amazon.co.uk
For those who have retreated to Anam Cara, John's homeplace is about 500 yards down the road to Castletownbere from here, and he has a section and pictures on the cascades.
Amazon.com description:
"The eldest of six children, John Dwyer recounts his memories of a rural childhood on the remote but beautiful Beara Peninsula in West Cork, Ireland. Complemented by a series of childhood photographs, his stories are told in vivid and colourful prose.
He describes the hard but happy work of saving the hay, cutting the turf, shearing the sheep, and digging the potatoes. His humour comes to the fore in the stories of a rampaging sheep and an innocent hobby that nearly caused a local outcry. His account of his own family connections with America and especially Butte, Montana are a microcosm of all Irish-American stories of immigration.
"Sprinkled with a selection of fitting works by some of Ireland's best-known poets such as Seamus Heaney, Patrick Kavanagh and Paul Muldoon, this gem of a book is a chronicle of the simple but happy life of an Irish farmer boy."
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Poetry Manuscript Competition 2012
Bradshaw Books is pleased to announce the return of the Cork Literary Review Poetry Manuscript Competition 2012.
The aim of this competition is to give emerging writers the opportunity to publish their first collection of poetry.
For more information, go to: http://www.facebook.com/events/160535007400512/
The aim of this competition is to give emerging writers the opportunity to publish their first collection of poetry.
For more information, go to: http://www.facebook.com/events/160535007400512/
Monday, March 12, 2012
Short Fiction Competition
Win a Fabulous Break at Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat!
"If you write short stories or you've always wanted to learn how, this is the competition for you!
"For the second year running, Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat have teamed up with writing.ie to offer a fabulous prize to one lucky - and talented - writer.
"Write us a 250-word short fiction piece, and you could win a place in the Anam Cara "Short Fiction: So Much More Than It Seems..." workshop retreat led by Vanessa Gebbie, award-winning short story writer, scheduled for the week of 9-15 June 2012.
"Anam Cara is set in beautiful countryside on the Beara Peninsula in Co. Cork, so our theme is A Garden of Eden."
(For more details, see http://www.anamcararetreat.com/anam-cara-competitions.html or http://writing.ie/for-readers/competitions-and-giveaways.html)
"If you write short stories or you've always wanted to learn how, this is the competition for you!
"For the second year running, Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat have teamed up with writing.ie to offer a fabulous prize to one lucky - and talented - writer.
"Write us a 250-word short fiction piece, and you could win a place in the Anam Cara "Short Fiction: So Much More Than It Seems..." workshop retreat led by Vanessa Gebbie, award-winning short story writer, scheduled for the week of 9-15 June 2012.
"Anam Cara is set in beautiful countryside on the Beara Peninsula in Co. Cork, so our theme is A Garden of Eden."
(For more details, see http://www.anamcararetreat.com/anam-cara-competitions.html or http://writing.ie/for-readers/competitions-and-giveaways.html)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The 2012 Workshop Retreat Schedule, Thus Far
2012 will see six week-long residential workshops scheduled, and as is the norm, the rest of the year will be dedicated to individual residents working on their own focused projects. The following are the first two workshop retreats scheduled, both during May; the other four will be scheduled and posted soon. Whether you choose your own retreat to work on your own project or a workshop retreat, I hope to see you retreating to Anam Cara sometime during the next year.
Watercolour Workshop Retreat
Facilitator: Evelyn Dunphy(www.evelyndunphy.com)
Arrival: 12 May 2012
Departure: 19 May 2012
“Come and experience the haunting beauty of the landscape that surrounds Anam Cara. Explore ways to find just the right mixtures of pigments to paint all of those wonderful greens, the brightly-colored houses winding their way down the lane and the misty mountains off in the distance – it’s an artists’ paradise!
“You’ll learn to simplify shapes, exaggerate, crop, compose, and build a composition that enables you to enjoy seeing pigments mix and dance on your paper. Be a poet rather than a reporter, paint light and color and shadow, and develop your ability to really “see”. There will a demonstration each day, and lots of individual attention. There is nothing like uninterrupted hours of painting time to see a great leap in the quality of your work. No matter what your level of painting ability, there is always so much more to learn and experience.
“My goal is always to enlarge each student’s vocabulary of painting ‘tools’ so that each person has the necessary skills to express their own personal aesthetic. It is necessary to be able to execute the fundamental techniques of using watercolor, and I also believe that passion drives technique; if you really want to paint something you will figure out how to do it. Experienced painters will be challenged and encouraged to move out of their “comfort zone” to realize their goals, and beginners will be guided through the process of using watercolor.
“I also think it’s very important to ‘name the thing you are trying to do’ – whether it’s the pigment with its temperature and value, or the concept for your painting. Naming it makes it possible to actually do it.”
Recommendations:
“I am just beginning to realize how much I learned from you in the workshop. Things that I thought I knew but did not really understand have come to life for me, and my work shows it” – a student from a recent workshop in Canada.
"If you want a workshop with a dedicated, talented teacher who is also a beautiful painter, go with Evelyn Dunphy” – a student from a workshop at Frederic Church’s camp
For more information and to book a place in Evelyn’s workshop retreat, contact her at: artist@evelyndunphy.com.
Writing in Ireland: A Generative Workshop Retreat for Writers in All Genres
Facilitator: Karen Blomain (www.karenblomain.com
Guest presenters: Playwright, Michael Downend; Poet, Madeline Tiger; Communications Specialist, Dr. Andrea Mitnick
Arrival: 19 May 2012
Departure: 26 May 2012
“Come to magnificent Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork, Ireland. In the tranquil setting of Anam Cara Writer’s and Artist’s Retreat, enjoy a relaxed format workshop for writers at all levels of accomplishment -- from the novice wishing to try her hand at writing to the seasoned writer who needs to jump start his muse for a new project to those wishing to challenge themselves in a different genre. This generative workshop is designed to offer new starts and new vision. Each day will include two hands-on sessions, a discussion group, active participation, and significant enrichment opportunities, as well as the chance to rest, dream, and experience this beautiful part of the world.”
The workshop retreat is limited to twelve participants and booked on a first-deposit-in basis. To learn more and to register, please contact Karen at karenblomain@gmail.com.
Watercolour Workshop Retreat
Facilitator: Evelyn Dunphy(www.evelyndunphy.com)
Arrival: 12 May 2012
Departure: 19 May 2012
“Come and experience the haunting beauty of the landscape that surrounds Anam Cara. Explore ways to find just the right mixtures of pigments to paint all of those wonderful greens, the brightly-colored houses winding their way down the lane and the misty mountains off in the distance – it’s an artists’ paradise!
“You’ll learn to simplify shapes, exaggerate, crop, compose, and build a composition that enables you to enjoy seeing pigments mix and dance on your paper. Be a poet rather than a reporter, paint light and color and shadow, and develop your ability to really “see”. There will a demonstration each day, and lots of individual attention. There is nothing like uninterrupted hours of painting time to see a great leap in the quality of your work. No matter what your level of painting ability, there is always so much more to learn and experience.
“My goal is always to enlarge each student’s vocabulary of painting ‘tools’ so that each person has the necessary skills to express their own personal aesthetic. It is necessary to be able to execute the fundamental techniques of using watercolor, and I also believe that passion drives technique; if you really want to paint something you will figure out how to do it. Experienced painters will be challenged and encouraged to move out of their “comfort zone” to realize their goals, and beginners will be guided through the process of using watercolor.
“I also think it’s very important to ‘name the thing you are trying to do’ – whether it’s the pigment with its temperature and value, or the concept for your painting. Naming it makes it possible to actually do it.”
Recommendations:
“I am just beginning to realize how much I learned from you in the workshop. Things that I thought I knew but did not really understand have come to life for me, and my work shows it” – a student from a recent workshop in Canada.
"If you want a workshop with a dedicated, talented teacher who is also a beautiful painter, go with Evelyn Dunphy” – a student from a workshop at Frederic Church’s camp
For more information and to book a place in Evelyn’s workshop retreat, contact her at: artist@evelyndunphy.com.
Writing in Ireland: A Generative Workshop Retreat for Writers in All GenresFacilitator: Karen Blomain (www.karenblomain.com
Guest presenters: Playwright, Michael Downend; Poet, Madeline Tiger; Communications Specialist, Dr. Andrea Mitnick
Arrival: 19 May 2012
Departure: 26 May 2012
“Come to magnificent Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork, Ireland. In the tranquil setting of Anam Cara Writer’s and Artist’s Retreat, enjoy a relaxed format workshop for writers at all levels of accomplishment -- from the novice wishing to try her hand at writing to the seasoned writer who needs to jump start his muse for a new project to those wishing to challenge themselves in a different genre. This generative workshop is designed to offer new starts and new vision. Each day will include two hands-on sessions, a discussion group, active participation, and significant enrichment opportunities, as well as the chance to rest, dream, and experience this beautiful part of the world.”
The workshop retreat is limited to twelve participants and booked on a first-deposit-in basis. To learn more and to register, please contact Karen at karenblomain@gmail.com.
A Gift That Keeps on Giving
If you're looking for the ideal gift for that creative someone in your life, how about an individual or workshop retreat at Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat? Just let me know, and I'll send along a gift voucher (discounted by 10% for former residents) that you can present, leaving the booking arrangements to be made later.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Anam Cara on TV....
For those with Sky TV satellite service in Europe, Anam Cara will be part of the Travel Channel's broadcast of "Wild Camping - Ireland" on Thursday, November 10th, 2011 at 8pm (Sky 251). The first episode will focus on Beara as inspiration to writers with writer-in-residence Bernard O'Donoghue and Beara poet John O'Leary reading poems. The new series is announced on the Channel's web site at http://www.travelchannel.co.uk/wild-camping/pages/ireland.html and may be available there for those not living in Europe.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Nightmare Book Review Winners!
The results of Anam Cara's first annual Writer's Nightmare Book Jacket Review Contest are in! There were 72 excellent entries, providing lots of good laughs, and the judging was very close. In fact, so close that two people each won the three-day retreat to Anam Cara prize. Many thanks go to Vanessa O'Loughlin and her writer's resource website (www.writing.ie) for partnering the first Anam Cara contest and to the three judges (who shall remain anonymous so they can't be unduly influenced next year!). Here are the winning and shortlisted Nightmare Reviews:
Máire T. Robinson:
"This novel deserves a place in the literary canon, from where it should be propelled with great force into the Irish Sea."
and
Breandan O'Broin:
"Publishers ask if a debut writer has a second book in him. In the case of No Siesta, they should have asked if he had a first."
On the short list (in no particular order):
Wendy Gregan-Lynch:
"There should be a law restricting authors releasing such unadulterated rubbish on unsuspecting readers."
dmccabe:
"If the second half of this novel had the scintillating verve, so lacking
in the first half, it would be a blockbuster."
Margaret Cahill:
"At last, a cure for insomnia!"
Seán O'Hara:
"Instead of writing this book the author could have been off doing something more productive, like counting the grains of sand on Killiney beach, or cleaning blades of grass with a damp cloth. He would have saved the world from experiencing the literary equivalent of the Black Death."
Patrick Brosnan:
"If the writing reminds you of Oscar Wilde, it's only because, after a while, you'll find yourself saying to the book, 'One of us has got to go.'"
Breandan O'Broin:
"No Siesta is aptly named. The book is a nightmare."
"Rumour has it that No Siesta is only half-finished. Having read advance extracts, let’s pray it stays that way."
Sharon Hutchinson:
"Open this book at your peril
Don't say you haven't been warned
To continue and actally buy it
It's you and not me to be scorned.
I've warned you, I've warned you, I've warned you
Don't say that you haven't been told
To proceed to the checkout with this book in hand
Your brain cells will surely explode!
Sarah Schwarcz:
"Wanna know why Borders is going under??? This book!"
Máire T. Robinson:
"This novel deserves a place in the literary canon, from where it should be propelled with great force into the Irish Sea."
and
Breandan O'Broin:
"Publishers ask if a debut writer has a second book in him. In the case of No Siesta, they should have asked if he had a first."
On the short list (in no particular order):
Wendy Gregan-Lynch:
"There should be a law restricting authors releasing such unadulterated rubbish on unsuspecting readers."
dmccabe:
"If the second half of this novel had the scintillating verve, so lacking
in the first half, it would be a blockbuster."
Margaret Cahill:
"At last, a cure for insomnia!"
Seán O'Hara:
"Instead of writing this book the author could have been off doing something more productive, like counting the grains of sand on Killiney beach, or cleaning blades of grass with a damp cloth. He would have saved the world from experiencing the literary equivalent of the Black Death."
Patrick Brosnan:
"If the writing reminds you of Oscar Wilde, it's only because, after a while, you'll find yourself saying to the book, 'One of us has got to go.'"
Breandan O'Broin:
"No Siesta is aptly named. The book is a nightmare."
"Rumour has it that No Siesta is only half-finished. Having read advance extracts, let’s pray it stays that way."
Sharon Hutchinson:
"Open this book at your peril
Don't say you haven't been warned
To continue and actally buy it
It's you and not me to be scorned.
I've warned you, I've warned you, I've warned you
Don't say that you haven't been told
To proceed to the checkout with this book in hand
Your brain cells will surely explode!
Sarah Schwarcz:
"Wanna know why Borders is going under??? This book!"
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