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| Osmosis would be good |
This weekend I was invited by literary
friend, Mariella, to a champagne reception at the French Ambassador’s
residence in honour of the Franco-Irish Literary Festival. I suppose I couldn’t
say no, could I? We arrived en hommage to Coco Chanel, as did every second woman
in an LBD and pearls. Which was a good thing as Madame d'Achon likes her CC. What bliss, delicious canapés, wonderful company and
utterly stylish surroundings. Not a bad gaff if you have to live in wet Dublin.
Since early 2012 I’ve attended several
literary events, very much as an observer, at Waterford Lit Fest I met the very
charming and successful writer, Sinead Moriarty, and did an inspiring workshop
with another bestseller, Monica McInerney, who couldn’t have been more encouraging.
At the Dun Laoghaire Book Festival I got up
early to hear John Boyne, Claire Kilroy and Chris Binchy share their
experience. That was when I discovered Vanessa O’Loughlin, a writer’s angel.
I spent a week at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre
in Annaghmakerrig in February 2012 to finish my novel and send it to the celeb
agent, who’d asked to read it. You know what they say in the I.T. world – fail early!
It’s really good advice, because you don’t waste time refining something that isn’t
working. The agent liked my writing, but the structure didn’t work – what do I
know about these things? I was trying to write in a new form, alternating
chapters in the past and present, apparently the reader loses interest with
that kind of thing.
I was given Lady Guthrie’s room, no wonder
I’d the feeling of ‘having arrived’! The other residents included an
illustrious Italian composer, who was working on an opera about Henry James; a
film director, the artistic director of Macnas, a great fun girl, some strangely
quiet Irish poetesses, one not so quiet, and a bevy of wonderful artists one of
whom now plays on-line scrabble with me, from across the Atlantic.
At Listowel Writer’s Week I caught up with
Manchan Magan, a man of many talents, who was writing his own experimental novel,
and who was great on giving me tips on who to see. Which was good as I wouldn’t
have thought of Patrick de Witt and am really glad I went to his interview,
bought his book, loved it (The Sisters Brothers).
Truth be told, I also stalked an agent down
there, he loved my pitch, asked for the book when I’d re-written it and kept in
touch all last year. He got a new job heading up a flash new literary agency
since then, I don’t think I’m flash enough for it!
At West Cork Lit Fest I met Anita Shreve,
bought her new book, which believe it or not, alternated past and present
chapters, and was encouraged by her interview. By the way, the book didn’t work
(Weight of Water).
In Dublin last September I listened to a
panel with Donal Ryan, Kathleen McMahon, Selina Guinness. I read
Donal’s ‘The Spinning Heart’ and Selina’s ‘Crocodile at the Door’ over
Christmas, well worthy of their shortlising.
At this stage of writing, being finished
and listening to how others started, how each subsequent book is a new
beginning, is part of the learning. You could spend an entire year in Ireland
doing nothing but attending literary and arts festivals, some of them even
clash, that would be a bit sad though wouldn’t it?
So it was that last Saturday I met
Christine Dwyer Hickey, Anne Haverty and Mia Gallagher and followed it up with
a visit into Alliance Francaise yesterday morning for Christine’s talk.
There are only tourists, their heads craned
upwards, walking around Dublin early on Sunday morning, so why is there no car
parking, surely everybody hasn’t abandoned their cars overnight? Anyway, I was
very pleased I made it in, two hours of French and Irish inspiring writers, and
all done by lunchtime.
Thanks for the invite Mariella, the writers
I met were so encouraging it’s given me another burst of energy on a Monday morning
to finish my review of ‘Five Days’ by Douglas Kennedy and keep editing my own
book, or it will never see a cover.
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