Crimewriters Panel Boyle Arts Festival 22nd July 2017!!

Join myself, Declan Burke, Andrea Carter & Arlene Hunt on the 22nd July for 2 hours of all things crime fiction!!!Part of this year's Boyle Arts Festival.....

Time 5 p.m.- 7 p.m You can book the event HERE

TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS - BELFAST BOOK FESTIVAL 2017!!

A great event for crime fiction fans will take place shortly in Belfast, and I’m hugely looking forward to it.

Declan Burke, award winning author,  journalist, reviewer and editor, will be hosting this event as part of Belfast Book Festival on June 10th.

BBF17: TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS – NEW STORIES BY IRISH CRIME WRITERS – Declan Burke in conversation with three of the finest Irish crime writers out there, and who – no coincidence – contributed to TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS (New Island Books)

Saturday 10 June at 2pm
£6 | £4
at the Crescent Arts Centre

Irish crime writers have long been established on the international stage as bestsellers and award winners. Now, for the first time ever, the best in contemporary Irish crime novelists have been brought together in one volume. Author, editor and journalist Declan Burke will be leading the conversation on Irish crime writing with Louise Phillips, Julie Parsons and Stuart Neville.

Declan Burke is a writer, editor, journalist and critic. He has published six crime novels. He edited Trouble Is Our Business: New Stories by Irish Crime Writers in 2016.

Louise Phillips is an author of four bestselling psychological crime thrillers, each shortlisted for Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year. Her second novel, The Doll’s House, won the award. She is currently working on her latest novel, Dark Day In May.

Julie Parsons was born in New Zealand but has lived most of her adult life in Ireland. She was a radio and television producer with RTÉ for many years until the publication of her first novel, Mary, Mary in 1998. Her subsequent novels, including The Hourglass (2005) and I Saw You (2008) were all published internationally and translated into many languages.

Stuart Neville’s crime fiction has won numerous awards, including the LA Times Book Prize. Stuart also writes under the pen name Haylen Beck, whose debut novel, Here and Gone is due to be published this summer and is in development for the screen.

To book tickets, click HERE

Launch of Trouble is our Business - No Alibis in Belfast!!!

The Northern Ireland launch of TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS is happening this Friday evening, so if you’re in or around Belfast, why not call in. It's a terrific collection, a great bookshop and there will be crime fiction folk there, including myself, John Connolly and Declan Burke!!!

Details: 

Fri 25th November 6.30pm,
No Alibis, 83, Botanic Avenue, Belfast

An evening of chat about Crime Fiction on the Emerald Isle with Declan Burke, John Connolly and Others......Thrilling, disturbing, shocking and moving, Trouble Is Our Business: New Stories by Irish Crime Writers is a compulsive anthology of original stories by Ireland’s best-known crime writers. Edited by Declan Burke.

Contributors:

Patrick McGinley, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Colin Bateman, Eoin McNamee, Ken Bruen, Paul Charles, Julie Parsons, John Connolly, Alan Glynn, Adrian McKinty, Arlene Hunt, Alex Barclay, Gene Kerrigan, Eoin Colfer, Declan Hughes, Cora Harrison, Brian McGilloway, Stuart Neville, Jane Casey, Niamh O’Connor, William Ryan Murphy, Louise Phillips, Sinéad Crowley, Liz Nugent.


Reviews:

‘This collection can be confidently recommended to anyone who reads any type of crime fiction. They will find something to tease and tantalise their inner detective.’ – The Irish Times

‘Trouble Is Our Business is one of the essential literary fiction compendiums in Irish publishing this year.’ – Sunday Independent

‘A crime anthology certain to keep you on the edge of your seat’ – The Sunday Times

How to Tantalise your Inner Detective!

So this cheered me up from my sick bed!

Great review of Trouble is our Business in the Irish Times today!

Completely chuffed that John Curran picked my short story, DOUBLE, alongside Colin Bateman's THE GAINING OF WISDOM, as his personal favourites!

Read full review HERE

One of the essential literary fiction compendiums in Irish publishing this year!

TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS - is given a great write-up in today's Sunday Independent. Edited by the wonderful Declan Burke. It is described as one of the essential literary fiction compendiums in Irish publishing this year.

For my part, the familiar story of a wife taking a lover and plotting revenge on her husband, is described thus - Told in a few pages with flab-free focus, others would need a whole novel or screenplay to build characters and venomous motives as sturdily......

So folks, put this anthology on your Must Read List!!! 😎 And dare I say it this side of Halloween, a great Christmas present for the crime fiction fan in your life!

IRISH CRIME FICTION IS HAVING A KILLER MOMENT!

Myself, John Connolly and Declan Burke chatting to the JOURNAL.IE about IRISH CRIME WRITING HAVING A KILLER MOMENT....

"We’ve definitely moved from this time where women writers felt they had to adopt a male name on the front of their books. I’m very happy I didn’t have to become Louis Phillips."

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Trouble is our Business at the Red Line!!

An evening of discussion on Irish Crime Writing with author, editor and journalist, Declan Burke, who will lead the conversation on the crime-writing process, the development of gripping plots and characters, and explore the evolution of Irish crime writing.

Date:  Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Time:  8pm 
Venue:  The Civic Theatre, Loose End
Admission:  €8/€6 concession

Perfect for crime fiction fans and aspiring authors.

Warning:  As there will be a discussion of crime novels etc. and their content, the panel may be unsuitable for a young audience.

Presented by Red Line Book Festival/New Island Books

Duration: 60 mins approx

Trouble in the Gutter

I was delighted to sign copies of the fabulous TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS Irish Crime Anthology in The Gutter Bookshop today!

The fabulous Bob Johnson will have 1st edition signed copies available to order online or by phone....I'll be having one of those!! So get your hands on them quick :-)

TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS - LAUNCH NIGHT!!

The launch of the new Irish Crime Fiction Anthology 'TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS' from New Island Books, will be on Wednesday the 21st September at THE GUTTER BOOK SHOP at 6.pm.!!

Described as showcasing the absolute best in Irish Crime Writing, it's an anthology that many are looking forward to get their hands on. So why not join the authors and fab editor, Declan Burke, on the 21st, and pick up your copy with a glass of vino and author signatures!!

Selected and edited by award-winning crime writer Declan Burke, TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS showcases the absolute best in Irish crime writing today. From originators like Patrick McGinley and Ruth Dudley Edwards to global crime megastars like John Connolly and Eoin Colfer, there can be no doubt as to the serious quality of Irish crime writing in the twenty-first century. An absolute must-have for crime lovers! Featuring stories by: Patrick McGinley, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Colin Bateman, Eoin McNamee, Ken Bruen, Paul Charles, Julie Parsons, John Connolly, Alan Glynn, Adrian McKinty, Arlene Hunt, Alex Barclay, Gene Kerrigan, Eoin Colfer, Declan Hughes, Cora Harrison, Brian McGilloway, Stuart Neville,Jane Casey, Niamh O'Connor, William Ryan, Louise Phillips, Sinead Crowley, and Liz Nugent.

TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS!!!

The diversity and quality of Irish Crime Fiction writing is in no doubt, and this new anthology TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS from NEW ISLAND, edited by award-winning crime writer DECLAN BURKE, will be a MUST READ!

I am really delighted to have a story within the collection. It is dark, it is dangerous and it is poignant, and I can't wait to read these new stories by Irish crime writers! Roll on September publication!!! Loving the cover too!

See details below:

Selected and edited by award-winning crime writer Declan Burke, TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS showcases the absolute best in Irish crime writing today. From originators like Patrick McGinley and Ruth Dudley Edwards to global crime megastars like John Connolly and Eoin Colfer, there can be no doubt as to the serious quality of Irish crime writing in the twenty-first century. An absolute must-have for crime lovers! Featuring stories by: Patrick McGinley, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Colin Bateman, Eoin McNamee, Ken Bruen, Paul Charles, Julie Parsons, John Connolly, Alan Glynn, Adrian McKinty, Arlene Hunt, Alex Barclay, Gene Kerrigan, Eoin Colfer, Declan Hughes, Cora Harrison, Brian McGilloway, Stuart Neville, Jane Casey, Niamh O'Connor,William Ryan, Louise Phillips, Sinead Crowley and Liz Nugent.

TROUBLE IS OUR BUSINESS will be published on September 30th.

Ten Top Irish Mysteries - Strand Magazine....

Thank you STRAND MAGAZINE - Ten Top Irish Mysteries for St Patrick's Weekend, including review of The Doll's House.

" A fast paced novel with a steady ratcheting of suspense and an unexpected, satisfying ending..." 

Full feature here http://buff.ly/1ViKcpd with Benjamin Black, Declan Burke, Jane Casey, Liz Nugent, Sinead Crowley and Tana French....

READING IRELAND focuses on Irish Crime Fiction....

Reading Ireland is a new on-line quarterly publication founded by Dundalk native Adrienne Leavy to promote Irish literature and contemporary Irish writing, both in Ireland and in the United States.

Here is what the editor Adrienne Leavy had to say:-

“Each issue will focus on a specific genre or type of literature. For example, the summer issue, which was recently published, Reading Ireland focused on Irish crime fiction. Contributors included award winning Irish crime fiction writers Louise Phillips and Declan Burke, along with regular guest columnist Des Kenny from Kennys Bookshop in Galway.

In the autumn, the focus will be on poetry, and the winter issue will concentrate on Irish drama. In recognition of the vital contribution that Little Magazines have historically made to the promotion of Irish literature and culture, each issue will also look at a Little Magazine from the past. Issue one can be downloaded at no cost under the subscribe tab on the website www.readingireland.net For more information, please contact Adrienne atleavya@cox.net”

For a snippet from my article on the Rise of Irish Crime Fiction, see below…..

Irish Crime Fiction – Emerald Noir or Emerald Diversity?

There has been a lot of discussion of late about the rise of Irish crime fiction, and rightly so. Over the last decade we’ve seen a remarkable growth in Irish crime fiction writing, with more Irish writers than ever choosing the crime genre for creative expression.  People have coined phrases such as Emerald Noir or Celtic Crime, to encompass this phenomenon, but it is more than the increased numbers of Irish writers now exploring the genre, it is also the wide diversity of their work, the sub-genres within it, the topics, location and settings, and the variety by which Irish crime fiction is portraying a sense of not only how we feel about the world around us, but how we choose to write about it.

Irish crime fiction was described as being a very big tent by Dr Brian Cliff, Assistant Professor in English and Director of Irish Studies at Trinity College Dublin. During the last crime fiction festival held at the college, a festival which had unprecedented numbers attending, when asked about Irish crime fiction, he said, “Irish novelists set their work as far afield as Jane Casey’s London, John Connolly’s America, and Conor Fitzgerald’s Rome, and they do so with a broad palette from psychological crime novels to international thrillers, from socially engaging hard-boiled fiction to supernatural mysteries.”

John Connolly and many others believe that Irish crime fiction has reached its own Golden Age, not simply because of the numbers of Irish authors now writing within the field, and the diversity involved, but also because of the high quality in terms of adventurousness and critical acclaim. “It’s a kind of coming of age for Irish crime fiction,’ says John, the creator of the highly successful Charlie Parker series.

Inevitably, with an explosion in artistic expression, covering both historical and contemporary fiction, the big question is why is Irish Crime fiction booming?

Some link the creative development to the rise and fall of the so called Celtic Tiger in Ireland, and there are good arguments to support this, not least of which is the realisation that crime fiction is so often drawn to explore society and the interactions which exist, especially when people are tested. Certainly, there has been a massive period of change in Ireland, one which has left a number of questions unanswered about Irish society. On face value, this social change may not appear to be obviously connected to the rise in Irish historical crime writing, with novelists such as Kevin Mc Carthy, Michael Russell, Anthony Quinn, Andrew Hughes, Conor Brady and Stuart Neville, writing about times past, but in many ways the rise in historical crime fiction makes sense, as it is an effective means of questioning who we are as a people, by going back and reflecting on what has gone before……To Download a FREE copy of Reading Ireland click HERE

READING IRELAND

It is always great to discuss Irish crime fiction, so I was delighted to be a contributor in this month's READING IRELAND - THE LITTLE MAGAZINE. The article is titled 'Irish Crime Fiction - Emerald Noir or Emerald Diversity?' 

The aim of the journal and website is to provide in-depth analysis of Irish literature, past and present, through a series of essays and articles written by Adrienne Leavy (editor) and other Irish and American writers and academics, along with opening a window onto the best of contemporary Irish poetry, prose and drama.

Well worth supporting!!

Is it sometimes better not to know the truth??

THE LOST AND THE BLIND by Declan Burke (Severn House) gets its official US release April 1st , and early reviews sound great. 

Described as an intriguing new departure for this comic noir writer, it certainly seems very interesting indeed ….

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“A dying man, if he is any kind of man, will live beyond the law.”

The elderly German, Karl Uxkull, was senile or desperate for attention. Why else would he concoct a tale of Nazi atrocity on the remote island of Delphi, off the coast of Donegal? And why now, 60 years after the event, just when Irish-American billionaire Shay Govern has tendered for a prospecting licence for gold in Lough Swilly?

Journalist Tom Noone doesn’t want to know. With his young daughter Emily to provide for, and a ghost-writing commission on Shay Govern’s autobiography to deliver, the timing is all wrong. Besides, can it be mere coincidence that Karl Uxkull’s tale bears a strong resemblance to the first thriller published by legendary spy novelist Sebastian Devereaux, the reclusive English author who has spent the past 50 years holed up on Delphi? But when a body is discovered drowned, Tom and Emily find themselves running for their lives, in pursuit of the truth that is their only hope of survival.

  

REVIEWS:

“Burke shows again that he’s not just a comic genius, but also a fine dramatic writer and storyteller.” – Booklist

“There’s much, much more, and readers with the patience to watch as Burke (Crime Always Pays, 2014, etc.) peels back layer after layer will be rewarded with an unholy Chinese box of a thriller. Make that an Irish-German box.” – Kirkus Reviews

“In “The Lost and the Blind,” Declan Burke weaves plot twist after plot twist together to create a thriller full of mystery and intrigue … Not many authors are capable of successfully pulling off such a complex plot, but Burke does and makes it seem effortless.” – Library Thing

If that sounds like your kind of book, you can find THE LOST AND THE BLIND here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Sligo, Ireland, Declan Burke now lives in Co Wicklow. A freelance writer and journalist, his novels have been described as ‘Irish screwball noir.’ He is a regular contributor to The Sunday Times, Irish Times and the Sunday Independent, and hosts a website devoted to crime fiction called Crime Always Pays. In 2012, he won the Goldsboro Last Laugh Award with ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL.

Ireland boasts a fascinating crime writing scene says Declan Burke - Sunday Independent

READ FEATURE HERE

Irish Crime Fiction A Festival - Trinity College Dublin

Friday 22 Nov & Saturday 23 Nov 2013

Trinity College Dublin and New York University are holding a festival devoted to Irish crime fiction, featuring more than a dozen of the most exciting Irish crime novelists. This will be a memorable event, devoted to a key genre of contemporary Irish writing. 

Among the confirmed participants are Declan Burke, Jane Casey, Paul Charles, John Connolly, Conor Fitzgerald, Alan Glynn, Declan Hughes, Arlene Hunt, Kevin McCarthy, Brian McGilloway, Eoin McNamee, Niamh O'Connor, Louise Phillips, Peter Quinn, Michael Russell, and Stuart Neville. 

Register for Free Event http://buff.ly/1b2m9Tk

Check full Details  http://buff.ly/1b2ma9y

Have you ever considered where you might hide a body???

Intensive Crime Writing Week  with Arlene Hunt  Guest Speakers include Alex Barclay, Louise Phillips, Declan Burke and Declan Hughes...

29th July to 2nd August: 10.30am-5pm  €450/420 members at The Irish Writers Centre Have you ever considered where you might hide a body? Thought about being the gumshoe who follows clues to find a killer? Daydreamed on a Monday morning where you might like to retire with the proceeds of ill-gotten gains? If so, join author and publisher, Arlene Hunt, to explore the underlying themes of crime fiction. Focusing on characters, plot development, story arcs and mystery, we will dissect our story with gory relish. We will explore intent and red herrings, create tension; and ultimately unmask our villain. This is a writing-heavy, intensive course that deals with the complicated business of crime fiction. Over five days we are going to develop and craft a functional crime fiction novella- to be read on the final day. Not for the faint hearted!

Arlene Hunt is the author of seven crime fiction novels, five of which feature the popular Quick Investigation duo, John Quigley and Sarah Kenny. She is also the co-owner of Portnoy Publishing and regularly reviews novels for RTE's Arena. She lived in Barcelona for five years and now resides in Dublin with her husband, Andrew. Her books have been translated into three languages and her current novel – a standalone set the US – entitled The Chosen, was voted as TV3's Book of the Month for November 2011. An earlier novel, Undertow (2008), was short listed for best crime novel at The Irish Book Awards. Arlene has also contributed to many anthologies, including, Down These Green Streets, and Requiems for the Departed.

Booking information:

Members of the Centre can avail of a discounted rate by calling 01-8721302

Some Books are To Die For!!!

Check out 'Books to Die For', recently nominated for the prestigious EDGAR Award over at Crime Scene at www.writing.ie, where I also caught up with the wonderful Arlene Hunt and Declan Hughes. 

One for the favourite book shelves my friends!!!

Irish Book Awards - What a Night!!!!

A fantastic night at the Irish Book Awards, and a totally new experience for me, as has been most of 2012!!! 

Huge congrats to Tana French for winning the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award with Broken Harbour - and respect and good wishes to all my fellow writers in this category, Niamh O'Connor, Benjamin Black, Laurence O Bryan and Declan Burke.

Sorry not to have taken more pics or done more tweeting on the night - note to self, must get better at these things!! But a glorious night, and one I will remember for a very long time.

Hope you enjoy this small selection of pics, and HUGE THANKS for all your support - another amazing part of this whole experience!!!

THE EVENING IN PICTURES

Tickets for the Evening

Purse, bracelet, and earrings!

The Dress

Prince Charming's Collar for the Night

Pre-dinner drinks in the Library

All smiles!!

The amazing Niamh O'Connor

With the girls!

Big Screen

Pretty Table

Place Setting

Yummy Desert!

Books everywhere including the
Concert Hall at the RDS for Gala Dinner

The FREE Goodie Bag!!!

Final Memories

Ending the night  with a cuppa at home!

But what was in the Goodie Bag???..... Will be revealed shortly!

One Week to go......(kinda!)



Dublin Mountains by day

It's a beautiful morning here in Dublin, and I can hear the familiar sound of early birdsong. Our dog, a golden retriever is already lying upside down in the sun, scary really how human he believes he is! Not a chance of him getting a suntan with low temperatures and a thick woolly coat, but sure he's Irish, so he's forever optimistic:)

The rest of the house is asleep, and after a very busy week, my mind too is settling down. Yes, there are tons of things for me to do, lots to get organised, from creating book marks, to writing pieces, but you know, sometimes we all just gotta stop and breathe a little - think quietly about what it's all about.

On the 3rd September, RED RIBBONS will be in the shops - hard to comprehend really, as I'm still getting over seeing it on my bookshelf at home. Lots of people have confirmed they will be at the launch on the 5th, which will be in Hughes & Hughes St Stephen's Green SC (6.30). If you do intend going to the launch, you can pick up a copy there, and yours truly will sign every one of them - after all I'm supposed to be a writer!

I am nervous about speaking, (I always am), and no, I haven't written down what I am going to say, but I will. And, I remind myself, that I will be surrounded by friends, some of which I may never have actually met, but who are giving me the greatest compliment of all, by being willing to read the words I've put down on the page.

If you pick up a copy of RED RIBBONS, and you do find it has some good qualities, well spread the word. Even in today's world of major media advertising, social media, more streams of communication than any of us would have thought possible twenty years ago - by far the best way to encourage others to read books, is word of mouth. 

Yesterday, Declan Burke did a piece in the Herald about RED RIBBONS, and there is a link to it in a blog post below, along with an image of the Dublin mountains at night where some of the novel is set.

I hope you like the picture from this morning, which is all bright, sunny and beautiful.

Have a lovely week folks.

Thanks and take care.

xx

Louise