Writer’s Events
WRITING FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Sarah Webb, Kevin Stevens chaired by Mags Walsh
SATURDAY 5 MARCH 1.00pm
Writers’ Choice – Council Chamber, Dublin’s City Hall
SARAH WEBB has written nine bestselling novels including When the Boys are Away and Always the Bridesmaid. Sarah worked in the book trade for many years and now combines writing with visiting schools and libraries and working as a children’s book consultant. She is currently working on her tenth adult novel, The Shoestring Club.
KEVIN STEVENS is the author of two novels for adults; Song for Katya and, The Rizzoli Contract, as well as, This Ain’t No Video Game, Kid!, a novel for young adults. Kevin contributes regularly to The Irish Times and The Dublin Review of Books.
MAGS WALSH is Director of Children’s Books Ireland (CBI). A graduate of UCD and University of Ulster, she joined CBI in 2004. She oversees all of CBI’s activities including the nationwide Children’s Books Festival, The Bisto Awards, Inis Magazine and Laureate na nÓg.
WRITING POPULAR FICTION
Sheila O’Flanagan, Sinead Moriarty, Anna McPartlin, chaired by Sue Leonard
SUNDAY 6 MARCH 2.00pm
Writers’ Choice – Main Stage, Dublin’s City Hall
SHEILA O’FLANAGAN is the international number one bestselling author of fifteen novels and three collections of short stories. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages. Sheila also plays badminton competitively and is currently a Director of the Irish Sports Council.
SINEAD MORIARTY was born and raised in Dublin where she grew up surrounded by books. Her mother is an author of children’s books. Sinead is published by Penguin and has to date written
seven novels; translated into twenty-four languages.
Since her bestselling debut novel Pack Up The Moon, ANNA McPARTLIN has crafted a successful writing career and had books published in Ireland and internationally. She is currently working on her fifth novel and her first film. Anna is also a regular contributor on the Midday program on TV3.
SUE LEONARD is a fulltime freelance journalist who writes for the Irish Independent, The Irish Examiner, Books Ireland and other publications. She has interviewed in excess of 250 authors. She is the author of, Keys to the Cage, New Island, 2010.
SHORTCUTS TO SUCCESS: HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR WRITING CAREER WITH WINNING SHORT FICTION
Kate Kerrigan, Mary Malone, Ivy Bannister, chaired by Vanessa O’Loughlin
SUNDAY 6 MARCH 3.10pm
Writers’ Choice – Main Stage, Dublin’s City Hall
KATE KERRIGAN is an author, columnist and screenwriter. Her fi rst novel, Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, was translated into twenty languages. She is adapting, The Miracle of Grace, for film. She is currently working on its sequel – City of Hope. Kate writes a weekly column for The Irish Mail.
MARY MALONE is the Cork-based author of four womens fiction novels including the bestseller, Love is the Reason (Poolbeg). Her other books include, Never Tear Us Apart (Poolbeg), All You Need is Love and Love Match (Dodder Press).
IVY BANNISTER is the author of Blunt Trauma, a memoir; Vinegar and Spit, a collection of poetry; and Magician, a volume of short stories. Her play, The Wilde Circus Show, was published by Proscenium Press. Her radio work includes plays for RTÉ and the BBC, as well as fifty contributions to Sunday Miscellany; and she has won the Francis MacManus and the Hennessy Awards for her short stories.
VANESSA O’LOUGHLIN runs Inkwell Writers Workshops and is the founder of the new Irish writing resources website www.writing.ie and is the PRO and Newsletter Editor for Irish PEN. Working with Hazel Larkin and the Hope Foundation, she recently compiled The Big Book of Hope (Poolbeg).
