If you are reading this (and I happen to know a surprising number of you do - yikes!) I would be only delighted to attend your book launch and write about it. I tend to be nice about everyone (too nice some think, yes, you know who you are, MD!) but Ireland is a small place and I don't want to be drummed out of town.
Besides, life's crappy enough sometimes - and as my Mum always says 'If you can't say anything nice, keep your mouth shut'.
Sigh, I do miss my dear old Godmother who used to say 'If you can't say anything nice, come sit by me!' a la Mae West.
Anyway, I'll expect lots of exciting invitations in the post. Or you can email me: sarah@sarahwebb.ie
SarahX
PS There were fab goody bags at Marian's launch - shampoo, perfume and chocolates - just a suggestion
This will be short as I have 2 books to edit up - yikes! I have to take my own advice and get on with it - bums on seats! Sorry, as I only have one (bum and seat I mean) that should be bum on seat!
Right, details:
Where: Harvey Nicks, darling
And what amazing purple flowers - in silver toaster vases, like on Marian's book cover - honestly, I'm not making it up - tres chic and fun!
When: Tues 29th April
Food: Very posh nibbles - including a rather odd quail's egg on black pudding that nearly had A C from The Gloss spitting into a napkin. But the ice cream was delic according to Martina. I couldn't eat it as it was green and looked a bit odd. But the watermelon balls were only gorgeous!
Wine: Beautiful looking and tasting pink cocktails - Marnie's delights I think Marian said they were called - Marnie is the alcoholic in her new book!
Who was there: Jeepers, let me see, writing-wise - Sheila O'Flanagan, Patricia Scanlan, Cathy Kelly, Fiona O'Brien, Anne Maria Scanlon, Martina Devlin, Kate Thompson (sorry if I've missed anyone out). Loads of book tradey people. Loads of media bods. Masses of friend and family.
Paul Howard gave a lovely speech, saying how much he admired Marian's writing and how she made us (popular fiction writers) all want to be better writers. He was very sweet and had obviously put a lot of work into his words. Marian was her usual bubbly and sweet self and thanked everyone so sincerely it brought tears to my eyes. And when she thanked her hubby, Tony, it was darling.
I also got my skin 'mapped' by a lovely beautician. I have blackheads and broken veins, sigh! No news to me unfortunately. I have to live with them. Or not if I go on a blackhead attack. Which is actually quite fun! I know Marian likes zapping blackheads too - I read it in one of her newsletters.
Right, enough of that and back to the important bit - best dress - has to be Marian's. Red silk. Perfect! She looked stunning. Little gold shrug on her shoulders and matching shoes.
And yes, Paul Howard, you were the last to leave! (He told me not to say this! Ha!) And how do I know this - ah, well I was the second last to leave!!!
But as you all know, I do love a good book do!
Your launch lizard,
SarahX
I'll be back on 14th May to report on Mandy Hearty's launch of Are You Ready? As I'm launching it, I'd better get my speech ready!
Julia Kelly, who I was chatting to in the loo at the Irish Book Awards, has a new deal with Quercus. Many congratulations to her. (more details below)
Kate Thompson also has a new deal with Avon, part of HarperCollins. All good news for Irish women writers! Both have worked hard at their craft and deserve every success with their new publishers.
Flush with success, Quercus has been flashing the chequebook this week. Jon Riley has acquired Julia Kelly's debut novel With My Lazy Eye, published in Ireland by Lilliput Press and the winner of the Best Irish Newcomer of the Year Award at last week's Irish Book Awards. Published to rave reviews, it is a coming-of-age story set in 1980s Dublin. The agent was Marianne Gunn O'Connor, who believes Kelly is “an absolute find” and Jon Riley “the perfect editor to nurture this very gifted writer”. (from Publishing News)
Anne Enright, Trevor Brennan, Roddy Doyle, Julia Kelly, Brendan O’Brien and Anita Notaro have been named as winners at the much anticipated third annual Irish Book Awards.
Diarmaid Ferriter was the toast of the evening, as his nominated book Judging Dev won the three categories in which the title was nominated. The Galaxy Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year Award, a public voting category, was won by Anita Notaro, author of Take A Look At Me Now. Anita was particularly delighted with her win as she beat off stiff competition from renowned popular fiction authors Sheila O’Flanagan, Melissa Hill and Martina Devlin.
Anne Enright’s Man Booker prize winning novel The Gathering won the most prestigious award of the evening, the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year Award, beating fellow Man Booker winning author, John Banville, writing under his alias Benjamin Black, and other acclaimed authors Joseph O’Connor and Ronan Bennett.
The glittering awards ceremony, which was heldApril 24th 2008 in The Round Room at the Mansion House, saw a host of national and international authors come together to celebrate the best of Irish literature published in the last year.
The gala dinner got underway with an opening address from An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, T.D. and among those in attendance were RTÉ television presenter Gráinne Seoige, Ireland AM’s Sinead Desmond, rugby star Trevor Brennan, television presenter and budding author Kathryn Thomas, internationally renowned artist and author Oliver Jeffers, RTÉ radio and television presenter Ryan Tubridy, English author and television script writer Anthony Horowitz and Man Booker winning author Anne Enright.
Also joining in the celebrations were Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly and the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley.
The winning authors in the 9 categories of the Irish Book Awards 2008 are as follows:
The Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year:
The Gathering by Anne Enright (Cape)
The Argosy Irish Non-Fiction Book of the Year:
Judging Dev by Diarmaid Ferriter (Royal Irish Academy)
Galaxy Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year (Public Vote):
Take A Look At Me Now by Anita Notaro (Bantam Press)
Energise Sport Irish Sports Book of the Year:
Trevor Brennan: Heart and Soul by Trevor Brennan with Gerry Thornley (Red Rock Press)
International Education Services Irish Newcomer of the Year Award:
With My Lazy Eye by Julia Kelly (Lilliput)
Eason Irish Published Book of the Year:
Judging Dev by Diarmaid Ferriter (Royal Irish Academy)
The Tubridy Show Listeners’ Choice Award (Public Vote):
Judging Dev by Diarmaid Ferriter (Royal Irish Academy)
The Dublin Airport Authority Irish Children’s Book of the Year:
Junior
The Story of Ireland by Brendan O’Brien (O’Brien Press)
Senior
Wilderness by Roddy Doyle (Scholastic)
Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement in Irish Literature:
Distinguished novelist, playwright and short story writer William Trevor was this year’s recipient of the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award in Irish Literature.
Where: The Round Room in the Mansion House, Dublin
When: Thursday 24th April
Where to start! We arrived at the Masion House at 6.30 for the champagne reception and as soon as I stepped out of the taxi I saw familiar faces. With over 400 people from the book trade – writers, publishers, booksellers – and the media, it was jammers with interesting and very glammed-up people.
Who was there: Who wasn’t! Right, in no particular order – Martina Devlin in a delightful flamingo printed full length skirt and halter neck top, shortlisted for the Galaxy Popular Fiction Award; RTE’s David Murphy; Niamh Greene, nominated for two awards, her hair in a fab up do, very Greek slave; John Boyne; Cormac Kinsella; Paul Howard aka Ross O’Carroll Kelly; children’s authors Derek Landy and Oliver Jeffers; Sheila O’Flanagan (pink lace dress – very cute).
Ryan Tubridy and his team from the radio show; Marian Keyes (blue silk); Cathy Kelly (black cocktail dress); Anita Notaro (purple flowing dress – beautiful colour); David O’Callaghan from Eason; Susan Walsh from Dubray Books; Lots and lots of Eason bods. Agents galore – Marianne Gunn O’Connor; Sheila Crowley; Faith O’Grady to name but a few.
More authors - Melissa Hill in pink animal print, very dramatic; Roddy Doyle; Anne Enright (in black or was it dark blue, nice anyway); Julia Kelly who won the Best Newcomer, in swishy black; Kevin Barry; a host of Sunday Indo girls in glittery frocks; John Spain, Literary Editor of the Indo; Bertie Ahern . . .
OK, I’ll have to stop now – there were so many fab people there I can’t possibly list them all, but you get the picture.
Food: Salmon. Beef for the meat eaters. Choc pud. All good!
Wine: White. French. Lovely.
Best frock: this is a very hard one to call. I loved agent Faith O’Grady’s very subtle and flattering red dress with dark pink lining; Anita’s dress was the most deliciously edible grape colour. Grainne Seoige’s dramatic floor length silver dress was fab too, but not a frock many could pull off. You’d need va-va voom curves!
My friend who will remain nameless says I have to say a few nasty things about people as everyone on this blog is ‘fab’ and ‘handsome’ and ‘lovely’. But I just can’t! Do I have anything bad to say about the whole night? Let me see. Um, no, not really! There was no dancing – there, is that bad enough? No dancing and no pink champagne. Shame on you, Irish Book Awards!
Was anyone rude; was there any scandal? Who knows? I was too busy enjoying myself to take note. I’m useless, apologies.
Off to Marian Keyes’ launch in Harvey Nicks tomorrow night with Martina Devlin – many frocks to be reported on I’m sure! Till next time . . .
