Although this year’s festival is scheduled closer to the end of the year, you can be sure that the programme will be jam packed with plenty of readings, workshops, children’s events, guest appearances and plenty of other exciting events.

So make sure to check back often for the latest developments.

You can also follow Dublin Book Festival and Publishing Ireland on Twitter for the latest news.

There was an overwhelming response to this year’s extended festival, with sell-out shows and packed stages at City Hall. Overall, the festival emanated a sense of appreciation, celebration and hope – appreciation of the inspiring writers and publishing teams behind them, celebration of the overwhelming talent in Ireland and the country’s ability to make excellent events such as this available to the public, and hope for the future generations of writers, readers and publishers as well as for the country of Ireland as a whole.

Dublin Book Festival would like to thank everyone who attended the festival and showed unerring support; the audience, writers, speakers, volunteers and sponsors. We’d also like to thank everyone who spread the word through Facebook, Twitter and general word of mouth. Without your support, Dublin Book Festival wouldn’t be possible. We hope to see you all back again next year.

Pat Leahy wondered how many of the reforms that were talked about in the election campaign will actually be pushed through by the new government. After all, it would be useful for them in a political sense, especially since there is such an appetite for political reform amongst the general public. There has been a great change on one hand, but on the other; how profound will this change be? He argued that if voters want to see meaningful change from the government, they need to look at their own attitude to politics, not just to the media and political institutions.

The question of whether Irish people really had a choice in the election arose – why is there no clear right/left divide? Kevin Rafter argued that the conservative nature of the electorate has facilitated this to a degree. In general, the voters are pragmatic and centrist; Irish people have demonstrated in elections time and again that they like reform to be gentle, to come slowly. Few people voted for parties with more radical reforms – so it’s not just what the government provides, it’s what the electorate look for.  Kevin said that the electorate made a collective decision in the ballot box and need to give the government some space to implement their changes, investing a measure hope in their abilities.

Fintan O’Toole argued that the IMFEU deal should be foremost in the new governments mind, with a call for referendum. He said that Ireland is not just suffering economically, it is a country which is in fact in a democratic crisis – did it matter how we voted? The lack of choice meant that there wasn’t really any free choice, so the vote was effectively rendered meaningless. Fintan argued that the system lacks democratic engagement and long term thinking. He advised that power be given back to local government to really start making a difference.

Susan McKay looked at the number of women in parliament, stating that women’s political interests have not yet been acknowledged and women are completely underrepresented in politics on the whole. Government is still 85% male, and it’s not that the electorate don’t vote for women – they’re not given the chance. Women aren’t put in winnable seats and there are very few women are put forward in constituents. Susan called for a redress of this imbalance through a quota, saying it’s not about imposing women on electorates, but enabling them to have the option. Susan backed Fintan’s idea of giving power to local government.

All of the issues raised are of vital importance and the general atmosphere in the room was one of uncertainty, rather than fear. But if complacency amongst the electorate is an issue, the turnout at Dublin Book Festival showed that plenty of Irish citizens are still extremely interested in political issues affecting the country – so at least there is hope.

Foil, Arms and Hog blasted the stage with some of the best, finger on the pulse sketch comedy I’ve seen for a long time. No one was safe; from the Samaritans to iPhones to your friend’s sister, these guys could find the sublime or ridiculous in any situation. With their keen eye for observation and fabulous ability to mock human nature, it’s no wonder that their popularity is growing on an immense scale.

Colm Keegan followed with an outstanding poetry performance. Currently the slam poetry champion, his poetry was a maelstrom of vitriol, realism, emotion, passion and hope. From the beautiful ending of “The Boy is” to the stunning images of “The Crackle”, Colm’s stage presence and delivery was as inspiring as his carefully woven words.

Taking a different turn, the beautiful music of Jade Strings had the audience transfixed. Enchanting harp music by Aisling Ennis and the exquisite Soprano voice of Helene Hutchinson fused perfectly, creating a truly uplifting atmosphere. In an unexpected twist, the girls performed an amazing version of “Patience” by Guns and Roses as well as a memorable performance of “Make you feel my love”. And the collaboration with Tucan blew me away.

Totally Wired, Ireland’s answer to Flight of The Conchords, brought laughter back to the stage with their incredibly hilarious (and completely un-PC) songs. Full of charm and acerbic wit, Lorcan Hughes and Emmet Quinn had the audience rolling and crying with laughter in their seats.  And not only are these guys brilliant comedians, they can also sing.

When Lennon vs McCartney, written and directed by Stephen Kennedy hit the stage, it was like going back in time to my late teens, arguing the virtues of each of The Beatles over pints of snakebite. Fabulously written and brilliantly acted, this snippet of conversation was an acute observation of pub culture, pop culture and male friendships.

Returning to humour, Colm Liddy’s story about driving in packed traffic had everyone nodding and chuckling away to themselves. Using a cleverly entwined mix of self-deprecating and observational humour, he gave a wicked insight into human foibles which was clearly appreciated and enjoyed by all.

Closing the evening were the original two members of the amazingly unique and talented Tucan. These guys got melodies out of their guitars that I never thought possible; and the speed was something else. With seamless synchronicity, Donal Gunne and Pearse Feeney created some of the most innovative and emotive acoustic music I’ve ever heard, creating a very grand finale to what was an outstanding evening.

If you missed Nighthawks, don’t worry; they organise regular nights in Dublin and I definitely recommend you go along to see what the fuss is about; I couldn’t praise the event highly enough.

Although chick lit may not be to everyone’s taste, it is a valid genre – as book sales show. Female writers persistently make up at least three of the top ten on the bestsellers list, so there is obviously a market. But many of the writers feel like chick lit is maligned (Sinead), making writers feel “ashamed of what they’re writing, and making women feel ashamed of what they’re reading (Clare). Chick lit is placed in a defensive position.

As Vanessa pointed out, this is unfair because chick lit is a follow on from the great women writers such as Jane Austen; it came about because women found a voice and began writing about what was important to them, about what they knew. And that’s why it’s popular. But popular doesn’t mean bad writing. As Sarah explained, there is good and bad writing in every genre.

So where does this attitude come from? The women on the stage agreed that there were plenty of factors including gender inequality, marketing and publishing industry attitudes. But they also agreed that writers need to look at their own approach and try and force some change; they need to step away from the cliché and break through the current restraints, to give chick lit a bit of a revamp.  Whether you enjoy chick lit or not, this attitude has to be admired and it’ll be interesting to see how this genre shifts over the next few years.

Although the term Young Adult is widely used, it seems that most people have a different understanding of what Young Adult actually means. Can you clear this up for us?

Sarah: “It’s an American term – what we used to call these books teenage. Young Adult is not a genre – it’s an age category, for readers aged 14 plus. Within the Young Adult bracket, there are plenty of genres – such as horror, romance, literary fiction, etc. People tend to forget or not notice that.

Kevin: “Going into a bookshop is overwhelming – so the term helps categorize for librarians, booksellers and book buyers.”

So, what are the challenges involved in writing Young Adult fiction?

Sarah:  “I started out writing for children, but then I wrote eight adult books. I do a lot of work in schools and on one particular occasion the girls asked whether I would write for them. I was lucky – I asked them to tell me what they wanted to read about and then they gave advice on the drafts. But the real challenge is remembering what it’s like to be a teenager; it’s a huge advantage for any writer to be able to connect with those feelings. So my character of Amy Green is based partly on me as a teenager and partly on my interactions and observations of teenagers.”

Kevin: “A friend asked me if I had ever considered writing for Young Adults and I said yes – but I needed an idea. I had an idea of focusing on two male characters, one in Ireland and one in America, which reflects my own heritage.  I know that boys don’t read much so I decided that if I chose a video-game theme, it might have more appeal. I was amazed to find the creative process is the same as writing an adult book – but the challenge is finding a good idea and making sure your book engages with the target age group.”

And as for the actual writing process, what kind of routine do you need?

Kevin: “It’s personal to every writer. Some writers, for instance, say they find it easier to write on trains, because of the enclosed space and the rhythm, but I find routine more important than place. It’s important to write if not every day, then frequently. You have to work at getting better.”

Sarah: “I agree with Kevin – routine is essential. I write every day between 10am and 2pm and then I the afternoon and evening I do the admin stuff; Facebook, Twitter, emails. When I publish a book, I take a month out for launches and events, and every Friday outside of that I travel Ireland and the UK for school events.”

Both writers agreed that they loved their jobs and writing for Young Adults, but both clearly stated that self marketing and engaging with your readership is as much a part of the role of a writer as writing the book itself – something for all aspiring writers of Young Adult fiction to make note of.

With so much uncertainty around, such as pay cuts, redundancies and job losses, this uplifting discussion was just the tonic that was needed for many of today’s Irish entrepreneurs and small business owners.  Especially if you follow Brody’s line of thought and believe “there’s never a bad time to start a business.”

There were two phases to this discussion; starting a new business and maintaining a business in the current climate. Each member of the panel approached the topics and questions in a personal yet business-like manner, demonstrating what chair, Daire Coffey, stated as the essence of a true entrepreneur; “they want to help and share – they give something back.”

The panel were certainly personable and approachable, accepting audience questions and providing honest answers and insight into how to set up and maintain a successful business in the current economic climate. Thankfully, the message was a positive one.

In fact, the general massage was that there are many advantages to starting a business now…such as lower costs, better conditions for negotiation, clear vision of situation and no need to change habits (new businesses are already reacting to current situation). A recession is a good time to set a platform for making money in two to three years time – and many of the leading companies in 2011 were started in a recession – e.g. Tesco, Microsoft.

So, like Yanky Fachler stated: “A recession in itself is not terribly relevant to whether to start a business or not.” It’s all about your product, your approach and your ability to be your own boss. Of course, there’s no magic wand or guarantees – but the economy cannot be used as an excuse for failure or lack of action.

So what does affect a new company? And what do you need to know to get started?

Rather than talk you through the session, I’d like to provide you with some of the key pieces of advice. After all, if you’re looking to set up a business or have a new small business already, that’s what you’ll be looking for.

Start Up/New businesses

• Have a plan but know that this plan will need to adapt and change (Brody Sweeney – Note, Brody changed the name of his business three times in one year to achieve success)
• Find something you love and do it (Yanky Fachler)
• Make sure you have a market for your product (Bobby Kerr)
• Be really good at one thing and try to be the best at it (Brody Sweeney)
• Know all the costs and do everything yourself in the early stages (Bobby Kerr)
• Surround yourself with like minds and positive people to stave off the loneliness (Yankee Fachler)
• Decide whether you can make the emotional jump from employee to self employed – ask yourself, am I fit to be my own boss? (Yanky Fachler)

Managing established/new business

• Take full responsibility for your business without blaming outside factors and be prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed (Brody Sweeney)
• Look at your business and articulate on one page what your aim is – your unique selling points, your target audience financial model, working capital etc (Daire Coffey)
• Have a clear marketing plan – what is your product, who is the target audience, how will you communicate this? (Bobby Kerr)
• Evaluate your business – ask yourself “If there was one thing I could do better – what would it be?” (Daire Coffey)

Providing an interactive session, Gillian read through Conor’s Cowboy Suit, with the children quoting, pre-empting, singing, acting and answering questions before enjoying some imaginative cowboy-themed games and music. In other words, the kids were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Later in the day, Niall de Burca performed several bi-lingual (Irish/English) stories on the City Hall Main Stage in front of a packed room. The giggles from the children in the front row rang out, drawing people from all around the venue. Using comical actions and faces, a range of voices, repetition and singing, Niall’s passion for storytelling had the kids crying out for more.

Although both writers focused on different themes, with different approaches, there were a few key elements present in both of their readings:

• The children were engaged throughout with questions and prompts
• Different voices were used to help differentiate between the characters
• Performance was key; expression, movement, surprise
• Investigating relationship: children/their peers, children/adults, adults/adults
• Lots of poking fun at adults and their silly beliefs
• Adults engaged as much as children
• Lots of imagination, rhythm and repetition

I recognised a few of the faces present at both events so it seems that there was a perfect balance of events in the day. And it’s encouraging to see such a good turn out; to know that the future generation has as much passion for, interest in and love of books as any past generation.

Firstly, Colm offered some practical and essential tips to help with personal finance. For instance, did you realise that you can claim tax credits for medical expenses and rent allowance for as far back as four years? If not, then you can put in your claim now – via form or internet. And with medical expenses although you need to have the receipts prepared, you don’t need to send them in unless requested – so it can be a quicker process than you would expect. In addition, Colm talked about evaluating your finances on a yearly basis and after any major change –a move, marriage – to make sure that you are still on track. And this means checking all forms of collateral. Think about your hidden assets, such as bonds and investments – you may not be able to access these funds but you can move them to make them more profitable in the long run.

Brendan Foley then offered the audience several ways to improve their outlook and achieve successful results, whatever their career path, with advice from his next book, The 5 States of Success; Tools for Meaningful Success in your Career, Business and Life (out July 2011):

1.       Insight – clarity about what you want to achieve so you can go on to achieve it.

2.       Empathy – the ability to connect to other people is a key element of success.

3.       Certainty – having the courage of your conviction to go after what you want. A mixture of determination, dedication and sticking power.

4.       Vitality – feeling healthy and energetic means you can act on what needs to be done. Without action, you cannot achieve success.

5.        Spirit – defined by a clear purpose, you need to have the right spirit, the right approach to be able to create the perfect environment for success.

The final speaker of the session was the refreshing Jane Downes. Reading from sections of her book, The Career Book– Help for the Restless Realist, Jane gave us an insight into her psychological approach towards career management. Looking at the person, their capabilities and their attitudes rather than external factors, Jane maintains that for any career improvement or change, each person has to take responsibility for their own beliefs, actions and behaviour before they even start to sort the ‘details’. CV’s, applications and interview techniques can only be improved, and useful, if a person is physically and mentally prepared – a point which is particularly relevant in modern day Ireland.

What I particularly enjoyed about this session was that all three speakers agreed that it is time for individuals to stop blaming, or focusing on, external factors. This ‘deer in the headlights’ attitude only prevents success. Yes, these are difficult times and redundancies and job loses are scary things. But there is a way to take the opportunity to regain control of our own lives and futures. Responsibility, accountability and action are needed for self improvement – and each speaker demonstrated that it can be done.

Today’s reading had a serious theme. As chair, Seamus, pointed out “it seems a bit strange to come out of work to spend your lunch hour listening to writers who have chosen the theme of death.” But the evocative language, exquisite detail, depth of feeling and dedication to the truth gave each reading an amazing intensity, leaving the audience moved rather than morose.

Both Jenny and Ralph chose to write about other people, each saying that their journalistic background gives them insight as “trained observers” (Ralph Riegel) which helps inform their work. And when asked why they chose to write non fiction rather than fiction, both saw a novel-length piece of non fiction as the “obvious extension of the day job” (Jenny McCudden).

Yvonne described her highly personal book about the death of her own child as therapeutic – though not during the writing process. The relief came afterwards, once the book was finished and she could return to it as a reader. Interestingly, when asked why she thought she could write a book, having had no training, Yvonne replied “I can tell a good story at a dinner party. I wrote it like I would tell it”. A brave and honest answer which will, no doubt, generate great sighs of relief among writers everywhere.

Although an hour might not seem like long, it is a perfect amount of time to listen to a snippet of work from three different writers as well as gaining an insight into their thinking behind the book and their approach to writing. Hopefully, I’ll see you at one of the net lunchtime reading sessions over the weekend.