The Launch Lizard Blog

An occasional report on book launches, lunches and dinners

Because I do love a good book do!

 

OK, I admit it; I’ve been less than useless at keeping up to date with this. But honestly, March and April were so busy. But I promise I’ll try harder.

 

January

January 16^th

Clare Dowling’s No Strings Attached

Eason, Hanna’s, Dawson St, Dublin

I started off the year’s round of launches by actually launching a book – Clare Dowling’s ‘No Strings Attached’. I was quoted in the Irish Times (Catherine Foley in the ‘society pages’) saying it was book about a ‘gifted lover’. Which all sounds rather interesting. But it’s actually about a ‘jilted lover’! And a damn fine read it is too.

Who was there – oh, lots of wonderfully interesting and glam people. Like Brian Gallagher, script writer for Fair City. Some Fair City actors, sorry, I’m not very good on names but one was Shelly (jeepers, I hope it was Shelly anyway) the bitch, very pretty, dark hair.

Many, many supportive writers including - Denise Deegan, Martina Devlin, Mary Bond.

And lots of Clare’s family and friends.

On to Café Insane for drinkies afterwards. Of course, moi had to run home to the baba – hey, ho!

Favourite dress: Clare’s of course, a delightfully colourful clingy jersey dress in shades of red which really suited her – my God she’s got a great figure – she hides it well usually!

Wine: a bit plonky but not too bad

Talent (and yes, I mean boys – this is for all you single gals out there – not that I actually ever met anyone at a launch or a book do – well, actually I lie . . . many years ago I hasten to add! But he was a guard and gate crashing, but you never can tell!): Anyway, the talent was pretty average (sorry Clare!)

 

30^th January

My Dad’s book

Yes, my Dad launched a book about his firm – he wrote some of it

100 Years of Quantity Surveying in Ireland – a fine tome it is too!

My sister Emma and I arrived a wee bit late, but in time to hear Dad speak. We were given out to for putting our wine glasses on top of a display, but we were only trying to be polite and turn off our mobile phones!

Lots of quantity surveyors and architect types there, family and friends.

Favourite dress: Quantity surveyors aren’t exactly known for their sartorial elegance. But there were one or two nice dark grey suits. Mum looked fab in a midnight blue Chinese jacket she had made on her travels to somewhere hot – China I think – but they do travel a lot, my folks!

Wine: not bad, in fact quite nice

Food: Very tasty ‘It’s a Bagel’ nibbles with sweet potato and parma ham. Dodgy lumps of meat with some sort of wasabi type goo on them though. (Is that how you spell wasabi? The hot stuff anyway)

Talent: Surprisingly good – lots of architects in dark shirts and those square German glasses; lots of tall, earnest young men – photographers and the like – turned out we used to play with one of them when we were babies. Cute too! Better not name him or my mum will give out to me, but you if you’re reading, you know who you are.

Couple of other tres cute men, bit bald for my taste but that doesn’t bother my sister. Not that she’s interested, it was only research you understand.

 

January 31^st

The Launch of the Irish Book Awards

Tres, tres glam!

I must tell you about the glitzy launch I was at yesterday - for the Irish Book Awards.

I'm a judge in the Children's Section with the lovely Robert Dunbar and John Tracy.

And I met all kinds of interesting people at the launch - some old friends and some new faces.

Old friends - John Boyne - Boy in Striped PJs John - lovely guy; Sinead Moriarty - nominated for her maternity book and best of luck to her, do vote for her or Marian or Maeve – go girls!

Cecelia Ahern was there and looking lovely; as was Anna McParlin who also looked stunning; Paul Howard, 'Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - who I hadn't realised is a really good looking bloke!

Who else - Ryan Tubridy, the charming Susan Walsh from Dubray Bookshops, the lovely Bob Johnson from Hughes and Hughes, and lots of other book trade bods. Oh and Bert Wright, my old Eason and now Hughes uber literary organiser person. Fab man.

Dermot Bolger gave a short speech on books and the like.

Myself, Bob and John Boyne were the last to leave - the shame.

Favourite dress: many, many nice frocks. Sinead Moriarty wins I think for her shiny black high heeled boots, teamed with a very chic tweed dress. She’s so elegant and no baby puke in sight, even with two babas! Sigh!

OK that’s 3 in January, and that’s a quiet month! I have a habit, my friends. I am officially the Book Launch Lizard.

 

February

Dinner with Sharon Dogar in The Mermaid

Sharon was delightful; we had a great chat about her book in the loo. Check out the children’s book pages for my review of Waves, her fab teenage book.

 

It’s been quiet enough for launches. Missed the RTE Arts Lives one as I was double booked. But March will be much busier with – MY OWN LAUNCH!!!

Monday 26^th February

Dinner at The Mermaid, Dame St, Dublin with Children’s Author, Sharon Dogar

On Monday I had the great fortune to meet the lovely children’s author, Sharon. Strictly speaking, teen author, as her book, Waves, is for older readers of 12+. It’s a wonderful book, set in Cornwall, with a strong teenager voice in the form of Hal, a teenage boy. I loved it. It’s well worth a read – part romance, part thriller; very creepy in parts, very moving in others. Hal’s sister is lying in a coma and he ‘hears’ her voice, urging him to find her killer, put together all the pieces of the puzzle, and in so doing, find his own place in the world and come to terms with her condition. Brilliant new writers are always exciting to read – and to meet – I’m a lucky girl.

I had a great chat with Sharon (in the loo I’m ashamed to say – probably shouldn’t tell you that!), and as we both have books out very soon, we agreed it was nerve wracking. A bit like having a baby in fact. Especially for Sharon as it’s the first for her – book I mean – her babies are biggish now!

At the dinner were booksellers from Dubray, Hughes and Hughes and Eason; plus the children’s book guru and good friend of mine, Robert Dunbar; renowned teacher, Liz Morris; and lovely and very funny publicity doyenne, Mary Byrne.

Wine – excellent – only had one glass – boo! – as I was driving

Food – delicious – I had lemon sole with a crab crust and a chocolate pudding – not together of course!

Talent – well the lovely and tres cute David O’Callaghan from Eason was one of the few men at the event. I used to work with David in my Eason days and he’s a great guy. And very into his music.

Sharon’s book is out in April – look out for it – it’s called Waves and has a stunning cover.

 

March

When the Boys are Away Launch

Venue: Dubray, Blackrock and afterwards in Tonic Bar, Blackrock

Who was there: a host of lovely writers – Martina Devlin who launched the book, Clare Dowling, Martina Reilly, Marita Conlon McKenna, Inkwell Director Vanessa O’Loughlin; lots of sailors.

Megan, Oonagh and Shirley from the Write on site

My friends and family!

Best Dress: I liked Martina’s green dress, very 40’s. But my mind is a bit of a blur to be honest. Blame the adrenaline and the champagne.

Talent: Loads of course!

 

Irish Book Awards Dinner

Very, very swanky and great fun!

Venue: Trinity College, Dublin and afterwards Renards

Who was there: Who wasn’t! Cecelia Ahern (lovely girl, we had a wee catch up chat), Giselle Scanlon (who probably thinks I’m nuts as I accosted her and begged to know where she got her shoes – picture coming soon, I promise – it’s sitting on my camerra!); David McWilliams; Ryan Tubridy; John Boyne (a real sweetie, we worked together in Waterstone’s and I’m so pleased that ‘Boy’ has done so well for him); Oliver Jeffers (lovely, lovely man – cut too, Australian skin, Belfast accent – lovely girlfriend too!); John Connolly and his very lovely girlfriend; David O’Callaghan from Eason and a host of my old Eason friends; Susan Walsh and Gemma Barry from Dubray (both looking yes, lovely); Doodles Kennelly who was charming and great fun; the uber-lovely Martina Devlin; Sinead Moriarty; Bert Wright from the Awards; P J Lynch and his fabby and fun wife, Barbara; Niamh Sharkey, the wonderful children’s illustrator; and hundreds of other people from the world of books, publishing and the media. Martina D and I sat with the very glam girls from Galaxy.

Best Dress: Damn you, Sinead Moriarty, you always look so well. This time in a red dress, which looked fabber than fab on her tall, tanned frame. And a gorgeous man on her arm too – her hubby Troy. Some girls have all the luck!

Talent: I spent most of the time at Renards chatting to the most charming bouncers at the door. (Yes, I was having a ciggy, but don’t tell the boyf – he hates me smoking. I have the annoying ability to have the odd one and not get addicted. I know, I know, I’m sorry! I smoked for years but now enjoy the odd one – like a cigar after dinner I guess). Sorry, sorry, got distracted there – god, I’d love the smell of fresh cigarette smoke when I’ve had a few drinks – stay focused, Sarah –

Talent at the dinner: Oh, yes. Paul Howard was there – who I’ve already been all swooney about. Martina D reckons he’s been googling himself and knows I think he’s handsome. But hey – who cares! See the Dubray Book Club Lunch entry for further embarrassing admissions. And John Connolly is quite cute too, in a George Clooney salt and pepper kind of way. Now I’ve said it!

And David McWilliams got one of the writers (not me I hasten to say) hot and bothered. It takes all kinds as they say. (And no, it wasn’t Martina either!)

But I have just one last thing to say on talent – Oliver Jeffers. But I’m telling you, the kiddi lit world is pretty HOT.

Right, I’ll stop incriminating myself now. But it was a brilliant evening, the best in absolutely ages. And I had a ball! (Can you tell?)

 

Irish Pen Evening with Caroline Walsh, Robert Dunbar and Anna Carey

Three most interesting people talking about my most favourite thing in the whole world, books. What more could you ask for?

Robert even spoke about ‘Tom’s Midnight Garden’ one of my all time favourite children’s books.

Venue: Pen Central – the United Arts Club in Dublin

Who was there: Marita Conlon McKenna, Catherine Daly, Carol Dunbar and lots of other writers and readers.

Talent: Um, can’t really remember, sorry! (so obviously not really!) Oh, Anna’s fiancé is very lovely though.

Pen nights are interesting and fun – do join! www.irishpen.com

 

April

Dubray Book Club Lunch

Venue: The Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin

Who was there: Sheila O’Flanagan, Claire Kilroy, Ryan Tubridy, Sebastian Barry, Marina ‘the tractor and caravan lady’ Lewycka, and a host of well dressed ladies and one or two gentlemen. Where are all the men who read?!

Best Dress: Sheila had lovely sandals on (brave woman, it was pretty nippy outside) and a very cool, flirty skirt. Claire was a boho chick in tight black jeans and a fab necklace. Ryan T was very smartly turned out – as always.

Talent: Well, my friends, several of the girls at my table (and you know who you are R and N) thought Sebastian was very tasty indeed. Tall, dark and moody looking. And Ryan’s cute if you like that kind of Mick Jagger, angular look (which many do I may add). And you know, he’s growing on me. Must be that sharp dressed man thing, and he always smells so nice. Which, along with my Paul Howard admission, will probably see me very, very red one day. But, hey, life’s short. You have to call cute cute when you see it!

And I was sitting beside a very lovely man, an artist called John Coyne who was a gentleman and most charming.

Wine: Lord knows what it was, but as I staggered out of the place at seven with my neighbour, it was pretty good methinks!

A great day altogether!

Mel Gibson at CICE

Ha! Got you there. Mel Gibson is a Professor of comic books and graphic novels and she gave a most interesting talk in the Church of Ireland College of Education. I love hearing all about books and children’s books in particular and I’m off to read lots of comics now. I’ve ordered a whole rake of them – from Maus (which I’ve read before and loved – and I think my son will like), to Cancer Vixen and Persepolis. I’ll let you know how I get on! But I think I’ll like them.

Talent: Librarians and teachers. Mostly female it must be said.

Wine: Ahem, no.

May

Irish Pen Night with Anne Enright

Venue: Pen Central (United Arts Club, Dublin)

Anne spoke about her writing and her life and read from her new book ‘The Gathering’ which she promised Marita Conlon-McKenna, Catherine Daly and my good self was full of sex.

A gang of the writer gals, including the above, Anne Enright and Anne Dunlop also had a most interesting chat about childbirth. I won’t go into details.

If you like reading modern Irish writing, do buy Anne’s book.

Who was there: Lots of literary types, including poets and writers

 

Bisto Awards

John Boyne won – yeah!!

Venue: College of Surgeons on Kildare Street – very fab

Who was there: a host of children’s book fans and lots of children too

Speakers: David Norris and Fiona Looney

 

Launch of Irish Children’s Writers and Illustrators 1986 to 2006

Two of my kiddi book friends, Siobhan Parkinson and Valerie Coughlan edited this excellent book. The cover, by my illustrator friend PJ Lynch gives it real gravitas too.

Who was there: The crème de la crème of the kiddi lit world – Robert Dunbar and his lovely wife, Carole and their daughter and grandchildren; Babs Lynch; Niall McMonagle who launched the book and commented on the ‘Protestant’ title – does what it says on the tin he meant! (to explain, it was being launch in the Church of Ireland College of Education); Lucy o’Dea; Amanda Piece from Trinity; Mary Shine Thompson from St Pat’s; Celia Keenan from St Pat’s College of Education.

Talent: the lovely Children’s Books Ireland boys and (and girls) and also the lovely and very talented designer, Kieran Nolan.

 

Coming in May / June

Galaxy Girls’ Night In

 

Dinner with Darren Shan, my fav horror writer