It’s October and time for all the fun of the 2023 Childrens Book Festival. Libraries across Ireland are joining in with lots of events and author visits that will run from now right until Halloween.
I am packing my bag and books and heading off all over the country and visiting libraries in Laois, Cork, Dublin, Tipperary, and Kildare.
Hopefully I will get to meet and talk to some brilliant young readers ,librarians and teachers over the coming weeks.
I am in Portlaoise and Mountmelick Libraries this week, Pearse Street Library as part of the Dublin History Festival on Saturday, then down to Cork City, Bishopstown, Cobh and Carrigaline Libraries, then to Kildare to Leixlip and Celbridge and in Tipperary in Thurles and Nenagh just before the Halloween Break.
I am so proud and happy to be part of this exciting new campaign to help everyone both young and old Discover Irish Childrens Books. Children’s books are a big part of the Irish Book Market with 24% of book sales… and yet we hear so little about wonderful new Irish Children’s books and their writers. Unfortunately Irish Children’s books rarely even get a mention in the Irish Weekly Best seller lists which have come to be dominated by the juggernaut of U. K and U. S kids series of books by big brand authors Why is that …
Irish writers and illustrators and book publishers are producing some incredible work, beautiful memorable books worth reading and buying but yet are finding it extremely difficult to get attention in the current market. So we need to act … if we want kids to read about other kids just like them, and stories set in Ireland or inspired by Ireland we need to do something… and do it fast
The campaign is the brain child of author and children’s book expert Sarah Webb who has an immense knowledge of the children’s book world and grew alarmed when she began to check sales of books by Irish children’s writers and illustrators and noticed the gradual decline in the market and best -selling lists, the sudden lack of events for kids at Irish festivals and the lack of coverage that Irish children’s books and writing was getting across all media. I have to admit I was sad and a bit shocked to hear that such a change had happened and been allowed to happen…
I have been writing for kids for what seems like forever and absolutely love what I do. I work with a great Irish children’s publisher and editor and a team of illustrators, designers and booksellers. It is an absolute joy and privilege to write books for kids.
My first book ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’ was written for my own children as I absolutely wanted them to read a story with Irish kids set in Ireland about something I really care deeply about. All my children’s books have been inspired by the same core principal and the need to tell a good story. I am lucky as I have wonderful readers both in Ireland and overseas, but for many writers it has become very difficult to make their way in this changing children’s book world.
Believe it or not but over 350 people are writing and illustrating books for children here in Ireland and many others are employed publishing,designing and selling children’s books.
What can we do?
Buy or borrow a book by an Irish Childrens Writer. Tell everyone about it!
If you are a parent, a granny, an auntie, a big sister or brother or friend and going to buy a book for the kid in your life take the time to look at the Irish Children’s’ books and decide to buy one of them…
If you are a teacher or librarian, maybe pick a book by an Irish children’s writer to read with your class or use for story time or for projects. Do a display in your class or library of the new, Irish kids books that have just come out or of books by your favourite Irish author or artist. Maybe ask writers and artists living near you to visit your school. Get kids used to hearing about Irish books and writers
If there is a festival happening near you see if they are having some kids events and bring your child or grandchild along to meet and listen to some of the best Irish children’s writers ever. Getting kids reading is so important but giving kids a sense of themselves and the world around them is also vital.
If you want to know more about this campaign check out the great new Discover Irish Kids Books website. https://discoveririshkidsbooks.ie and on X:@irishkidsbooks
Instagram: @irishkidsbooks
Irish Best Sellers from Irish Bookshops Author Sarah Webb
It was lovely to get such a warm welcome taking part in the ‘Hinterland Festival’ in Kells, which had a range of great speakers and events over a few days. It was my first time at the festival and I really enjoyed it. I was talking at Eureka House to a fabulous crowd of readers not just young but all ages who have enjoyed my books. It was heartening to meet so many fans and to get time to chat afterwards as we signed books, bookmarks and an autograph book (Just like the one I had when I was a kid).
It’s a beautiful country town full of history with an ancient Irish High Cross and lots to see. I was lucky to be able to go and see my friend Cristin Leach who was talking and reading from her book ‘Negative Spaces’ in the old Courthouse. Afterwards we were well looked after by Penny and Heather and the rest of the festival crew in the town’s Book Mark Cafe. Thanks to everyone involved for organising a great festival.
Jason King, Marita Conlon McKenna and Jim Callery of StrokestownPark House, Roscommon.
What a perfect summer’s evening to be on the Dublin quays overlooking the river Liffey for the launch of ‘Hunger and Hope’, a book all about the Irish Famine Migration from Strokestown Roscommon in 1847, which was written by Christine Kinealy, Jason King and Mark McGowan.
It is a comprehensive and fascinating study of the 1,490 tenants who were evicted from Strokestown Park House and Estate and accepted paid passage to Canada. Mostly women and children many of them unfortunately lost their lives on the journey or died of fever on Grosse Isle, but others began new lives and in time settled in Canada and North America.
It was lovely to meet up with old friends and get to see Jim Callery and his wife Adeline who have done so much to contribute to the ongoing huge interest and research into the Great Irish Famine with Strokestown Park House and the National Famine Museum.
Caroilin Callery helped to launch the book. There was a special treat as singer and musician Grainne Hunt performed a few songs from the new musical ‘In the Midst of Plenty ‘, written by Amy Day and directed by Anne –Marie O Sullivan, and produced by Enchanted Croi Theatre. The musical is based on the events in Stokestown during the famine. The show is currently on tour around Ireland until 28 July. I had the good fortune to see it in Mullingar only a few weeks ago.
It’s Festival time! Last weekend I was lucky to get tickets to see Tom Hanks at The Dalkey Book Festival. One of Hollywood’s good guys Hanks is a brilliant storyteller who regaled us with his life in the movies and told us about his novel ‘The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece’. The book, no doubt, was inspired by his career.
Tom Hanks is a consummate professional is always on time and not only makes sure that he knows his lines but has created a back story for every role he plays. The church in Dalkey was packed out and we could have stayed listening to him all night. Afterwards had a great dinner in Nova and then joined the throngs in Finnegan’s.
We were back in sunny Dalkey on Sunday for two great discussions ‘The World in 2025’ chaired by David McWilliams with Pamela Reeves, Carolina Alves, Lea Ypi, and Linda Yuen and then on to the town hall to ‘The Return of America’ with Andrea Catherwood chairing a though provoking discussion on what lies ahead for America with Terence Ward, Jeffrey Goldberg and Masha Gessen.
This weekend I am talking on Sunday 25th of July at the Hinterland Festival of Literature and Arts in Kells, in the Eureka at 2pm. Hopefully lots of readers will come along to meet me. There is a fantastic line up of speakers over the three days, including John Boyne, Liz Nugent and Cristin Leach.
Dalkey Crowds Sian Smyth, Bono, Andrea Catherwood, Tom Hanks.
Marita Conlon-McKenna 