Vote in Irish Book Awards 2016

Posted on 31/10/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

Marita at launch of Irish Book awards 2016 What great news to discover that Rebel Sisters is on the short list for the Popular Fiction Book of the Year Award 2016 for this year’s Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards!

There was lots of excitement, chat and fun when I went along to the official announcement of the shortlists for the book awards at Dublin’s Bord Gais Theatre. You have never seen so many happy authors, publishers and book sellers in one place.

I am in very good company as the other authors on the shortlist for the Irish Independent Popular Fiction Book of the Year are Graham Norton, Cecelia Ahern, Emily Hourican, Hazel Gaynor and Ross O’Carroll Kelly.

It is heart-warming to know that so many of you have enjoyed reading Rebel Sisters.

I’m really looking forward to a big night out on 16th November when the awards will be presented at the Irish Book Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in Dublin’s Double Tree Hilton Hotel. It will be broadcast on RTE One on Saturday 19th November and voting is now open…

If you want to vote for your favourite book for this year’s awards, you can do so here.

Voting closes at midnight on 11^th November 2016.

Marita, Liz Nugent & Donal Ryan

Marita and Happy Pear cooks Stephen & David Flynn

October Festivals!

Posted on 20/10/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

Trinity Lit Society Award 2016 with Ruth Atkins

It’s October and it’s book festival time!

Rebel Sisters has just come out in paperback and it is such a privilege to have so many book clubs reading the book. Also, it’s great to hear that so many of you are going on to research and discover more about 1916. I love it when people come up and share their own 1916 family stories with me, as I do events around the country.

Huge thanks to the Trinity Literary Society for their lovely award which I was very honoured to receive. Talking about books and writing in Dublin’s beautiful old college always reminds me of the writers that have crossed its cobble stoned squares over the years.

Marita with Lia Mills and Sinead Moriarty

Then it was up to my old school, Mount Anville, for a very special Authors’ Night with Lia Mills and Sinead Moriarty. We are all past pupils and it was fun remembering our school days and our first forays into writing with a big group of book lovers.

Then down to North Tipperary to the Drumineer Arts Festival. What a lovely event,held in Nenagh Castle – that has been restored! Talking history in the Round Room of the Castle was very special and having harpist Laura O’Sullivan to play certainly added to the atmosphere.

Marita in Nenagh Castle with Margaret Kennedy and Laura O’Sullivan

Then it was the Red Line Festival in Tallaght where I was delighted to join writer Dermot Bolger on stage in the Civic Theatre in Tallaght for their Readers’ Day. On Sunday, Dermot and I took part in a recording of RTE Radio 1’s Sunday Miscellany in the Civic Theatre.

Now I’m packing my bags again to go to Cork for this year’s Children’s Book Festival where I will get to meet and talk to lots of young fans…

London Calling

Posted on 11/09/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

Emily Hayward-Whitlock, Marita and Caroline Sheldon

Just back from a busy few days in London, with a special Champagne celebration lunch with my editor Francesca and agent, Caroline Sheldon, to mark the success of Rebel Sisters and its upcoming paperback edition in October.

I barely had time to get back to my hotel and change for the big party held at The Art Workers’ Guild on Queen’s Square to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency.

What a fantastic night! The old portrait lined hall was thronged with authors and illustrators, editors and publishers, all delighted to congratulate Caroline on her hard work and achievements over the years, looking after so many of us writers and illustrators. Caroline knows the book industry inside out and it is lovely to know that you have her there to support and encourage you.

All around the room, Caroline and fellow agent Felicity had on display some of the wonderful books that they have worked on. It was a very special night with great food, wine, chat and lots of fun at what was one of London’s publishing parties of the year!

Shadowed Women Art Exhibition

Posted on 06/08/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

IMG-20160729-WA0001 It was an honour to open talented textile artist Ciara Harrison’s Exhibition ‘Shadowed Women’ in Limerick’s Hunt Museum. Ciara’s portraits of the seven widows of the 1916 Easter Rising have an ethereal and almost ghostly quality.

Her charcoal drawings and embroidered layers in black cotton organdie, although seeming fragile, give a unique perspective to these often forgotten women. The portraits include sisters Grace and Muriel Gifford, Maud Gonne, Kathleen Clark, Agnes Mallin, Aine Ceannt, and Lily Connolly.

IMG-20160729-WA0002 ‘Shadowed Women’ was commissioned by The Little Museum of Dublin and is on view at The Hunt Museum until the end of August. Downstairs in The Hunt Museum, artist Robert Ballagh’s 1916 Centennial Reflection Exhibition ‘A Terrible Beauty’ is also on show until 28th August 2016.

Both exhibitions are well worth a visit over the summer in this wonderful museum!

From Limerick, I travelled down to the Ardmore Pattern Festival in Waterford, which this year is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. The sun was shining and huge crowds turned out for the week of varied events.

Saturday morning started with a big gang of young readers coming along to meet me at the school, with their books, ideas and questions.

Later on the venue was the 300 year old St Paul’s Church, which was the perfect setting to discuss and talk about history, 1916 and my book Rebel Sisters to a wonderful group of history enthusiasts and book lovers.

Robert Dunbar

Posted on 26/07/2016 by fionaconlonmckenna

Robert Dunbar photo It was such sad news to hear of Robert’s death. The world of children’s books will certainly not be the same without him. He will be terribly missed by both writers and readers alike.

Robert Dunbar was like a bridge introducing readers to good books, his mission was to bring both writers and readers together. Wise, witty and funny, in his red duffle coat he was like a Santa Claus with his books that he loved and enthused over.

I cannot imagine a children’s book launch or summer school without him! He gave me huge support and encouragement from the beginning when Under the Hawthorn Tree was published and always encouraged my work. I valued his opinion and always loved to meet him and have a chat.

Over the years he made a special point of supporting Irish writers and their books. Children’s Literature was his lifelong passion and he never lost his enthusiasm for it. A brilliant academic and speaker, Robert always worked tirelessly to promote reading and to share his love of books with everyone.