THE DOLL'S HOUSE COMING THIS AUGUST!!

I feel so lucky working with the amazing team at POLIS BOOKS, and Jason Pinter, for the US publications of both RED RIBBONS and THE DOLL'S HOUSE.

I was thrilled with the cover design of RED RIBBONS (see below) created by the fabulous design cover artist, MIMI BARK, from New York, and even more delighted to hear that she is also currently working on the cover of the upcoming publication of THE DOLL'S HOUSE!!

Actress, Caroline Morahan, is on board too, for the narration of the Audio book, and I can't wait for it all to come together this August!!

In the meantime, it's mood board time....one of my favourite activities!!

Cover Designer Mimi Bark

Actress Caroline Morahan

THANK YOU x 45,000 Library Readers!!!

It took me a while to register my novels with the UK Public Library System, but to readers in UK libraries, and here, a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the 45,000 library readers who borrowed books since registration - YOU ARE ALL AWESOME!!! :-)

A time to remember....

As the seeds of my current work in progress began in Cill Rialaig Artist Retreat over a year ago, being in the final stages of the script, it's a good time to remember.

Image with fellow artists, Andrea Carter, Catherine Dunne,Lia Mills, Maria McManus Valerie Bistany, Sean Hardie, and Anthony Glavin

(Day 8 of remaining 40 to finish novel :-))

Daily word count complete...Time for cuppa and a walk!!!

#writing #books #wordcount

Top Twenty Audio....RED RIBBONS

A massive thank you to everyone who has supported RED RIBBONS since publication date last week, especially those who have put the audio book in the Top 20 on Amazon #policeprocedurals....

Currently holding its own at number 14!!

Character Development!

#Writerswise

Tweetchat tomorrow nite 9th Nov 8pm GMT 3pm ET.

SHARING SECRET WRITING TIPS ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PRIOR TO US PUBLICATION OF RED RIBBONS NOVEMBER 15TH....

#polisbooks #redribbons #writing

"God rest ye merry gentlemen.." Short Story Relay - The Irish Times

It's getting to feel a lot like Christmas...and if I may say so - there's a terrific short story in today's Irish Times written by myself, Martina Devlin, E R Murray, Jax Miller,Hazel Gaynor and Claudia Carroll! 

It was great fun to be part of this short story relay, and I think all six of us kept a smooth narrative with lots of surprises. I'll leave the final judgment up to you! 

If you can't guess the order of the author, I'll give you a clue....the names are upside down at the end....

Margery Allingham Short Story Competition...

Prized Treasure!

Imagine a future version of the Antique Roadshow....someone in your family has brought along this irresistible, sexy and highly functional mug....well, yes, it could happen.....

TO WIN this once in a lifetime treasure, post a review of THE GAME CHANGER pretty well anywhere you like, but Amazon and Goodreads etc are a good start.

All previously posted reviews are eligible, and the more places you post, the higher your chances are of winning....#thegamechanger

Signed copies of THE GAME CHANGER......

After a day of whizzing around the city, there are now a zillion (well not quite) signed copies doted around the city....Easons O'Connell Street, Nassau St, St Stephen's Green, Blanchardstown, Swords, Liffey Valley, The Square and Dundrum, Dubray in Grafton Street,  Hodges Figgis in Dawson Street, WHS in Arnotts Henry Street and at the Airport!!! It was great to meet everyone, including the staff at Argosy Books!!   

And I will be signing books for The Gutter Bookshop, Dublin​ today....so there you go!!

Clever, subtle and well crafted!

Aine Toner, Editor - WOMAN'S WAY Review of The Game Changer

"The Game Changer is bloody brilliant - clever, subtle and well crafted, please read this!"

Cover Girl!

Huge thanks to the ECHO for this feature...I never thought I'd see my face on a cover, but Life is full of surprises....

Spaces...

Sitting in front of the fire (as you do in Ireland in the middle of summer) listening to this amazing artist Eileen Keane  - Listen in HERE 

Where does the time go??

Where does the time go??? 

9 days editing at the lovely Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig.

A full day crime writing workshop at the Irish Writers Centre​ on Saturday.

Time spent with grandchildren on Sunday.

A visit to the dentist to discuss root canal work scheduled for next week on Monday.

Catching up with work after time away.

A day or two with painkillers and more editing.

Then early flight with Jackie Walsh​ to go to Crimefest Bristol​ on Friday morning.

....oh yes, that's where some of it went.....

Pics of the Fair!!!

I had an absolutely amazing day yesterday at the LONDON BOOK FAIR - it was such a buzz. 

I learned lots of stuff, I had some wonderful conversations, and I totally enjoyed the Opening Ceremony within which Donal Ryan was announced as the Irish Winner of the European Prize for Literature. 

Sometimes though, pictures speak louder than words, so here's a flavour....

London Book Fair!

Off to the London Book Fair in the morning, so anyone on the early Aer Lingus flight at 6.40 please give me a wave or private message me! I was delighted to be invited to the opening ceremony at the Olympia Conference Centre and the reception afterwards.

The Irish Winner of  the European Prize for Literature will be announced at the end of the opening ceremony and it was an honour to be on the judging panel. 

Shortlist authors are:-

Deirdre Sullivan, Primperfect (Little Island, 2014)

Donal Ryan, The Spinning Heart (Doubleday Ireland, 2012)

Mary Costello, Academy Street (Cannongate Books, 2014)

LAYLA...

I'm working on a short story today. It's a flash fiction piece for an anthology, and it feels like forever since I've worked within this format, but thankfully it felt strangely new, challenging, and refreshingly good...

It's called LAYLA btw...

Happy New Year!!!

The New Year is nearly here and I've never been one for mad partying on this night, preferring to spend it quietly at home. Tonight we will share it with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

I know many people have a lot of difficulties at this time of year and life isn't always easy, which is why I am so utterly grateful for having so many wonderful elements to my life.

I feel blessed having a wonderful family and lots of dear friends, and even though I manage to find things to complain about, my life is enriched not only by them, but by the lovely and happy home I live in, by the joy of looking out every single day on a beautiful part of Ireland, by being able to have enough food on the table, and a warm house to live, by only being afraid of self doubt, but still striving forward despite the prospect of failing, by making stuff up in stories, and other people reading them, by being able to make mistakes and start over.

Now, as the kettle is on, having done my word count for today, I wish everyone a wonderful, happy and healthy 2015. 

Thank you for making 2014 so special, and I look forward to many adventures together over the next 12 months.

xxx

Louise  

“A new heart for a New Year, always!” ― Charles Dickens

The secret of becoming a writer....

"The secret of becoming a writer..., write, write and keep on writing," or in the words of Ernest Hemingway..."There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

It was the final session of the Write That Novel course in Carousel Creates last night, and it was a mighty session. Once again, there was a great group of writers coming together to explore areas of the craft. I may be biased, but I think writing brings out the best in people. It was certainly a pleasure for me to facilitate this lovely group.

Thank you all for being so enthusiastic, and for your lovely present and handmade card. I was really touched.

x

Louise 

Announcement of Nominees at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre!!

Click on image to view, but be warned, I've done better!

FLASH 500 - Winners!!!

I was delighted to be a judge for the Flash 500 competition - and after hundreds of entries, the winners can now be revealed!! 

Congrats to each one of them and to everyone who made the short list and long list.

First: Bit by Bit by Pauline Brown

Second: Tie Die by Steve Startup

Third: Nothing to Do But His Laces by Russell Reader

Click on the titles to read the three winning stories

Highly Commended: On the Tissue Paper Wings of Angels by Rachael Smart

Read Judge’s Report for the third quarter’s competition 2014 from  Louise Phillips HERE