N Curtis

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From Indie to Trad Publishing by A.J. Lancaster

A.J. Lancaster, author of the enthralling cosy fantasy How to Find a Nameless Fae, on her experience of both indie and traditional publishing. When the email hit my inbox, it seemed too good to be true. It was from an editor at Tor UK. She’d enjoyed reading the self-published edition of How to Find a Nameless Fae, and was I interested in traditional publishing?

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Made for Walking: a Novel by Richard Smith

Richard Smith, author of the novel Made for Walking: how I became an author at 70 and an accidental ‘internet sensation’ at 75. It was a 24-hour flight to Australia, and I was determined to use the time to make progress on my first novel. I’d a handful of notes and a plan for the story, and having boarded the cabin with a laptop and notebook in my hand baggage, settled down as soon as the overhead lights went out and I could pull down the tray from the seat in front.

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Irish Bestsellers 1st August 2026

Welcome to this week's Irish bestselling books. Our featured book this week is a debut that has gone not only into the Top 20 (at no. 6) but is also on this year's Booker Prize longlist. All Them Dogs by Djamel White has been hailed as a big hit across the board and we're keeping close eyes on his progress.

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The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2026

Competition deadline: 30th September 2026 The Moth Nature Writing Prize will be awarded to three unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. The prize is open to anyone over the age of sixteen from anywhere in the world, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.

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Mill River (Part 1) by Brian Gilhooly

Many's the time as a youngster, I'd muse as Mam would recite her mother's order of rule. This would stretch back to the 1930s/40s Ireland, and the words she used would "crackle" of stern sincerity as they emanated from her. God dare anyone question the absoluteness of this ceremony! The only thing missing was a massive marble altar and maybe the odd 'loud-hailer'.

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Time Management for Writers: Really Useful Links by Lucy O’Callaghan

For many writers, summer can feel like both the perfect opportunity to write and the hardest time to find the time to do it. Longer days, holidays, family commitments, visitors, and a more relaxed routine can quickly disrupt even the best writing plans. Yet summer can also provide a welcome chance to step away from the usual pressures of everyday life and reconnect with your creativity.

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Devour Me by Emily Rath

Author Emily Rath on her inspiration for her new paranormal romance, Devour Me… The initial inspiration for Devour Me came from the place where all great ideas are born: the Halloween decoration aisle of a Home Goods. It was October 2021 and I was casually wandering the aisles when I saw a piece of art designed to be a tarot card of The Lovers that featured two skeletons kissing.

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Writing a Great Summer Thriller by Danny Singer

Danny Singer, author of Nothing Left to Lose, on Writing A Great Summer Thriller: Make Them Wish They Were James Bond . . . The sky is a deep cobalt blue, and the heat is still bearable. You congratulate yourself for beating the Germans to the loungers at the shady end of the pool while at the same time regretting the breakfast indulgence of congealed scrambled eggs and mini frankfurters that are now repeating on you.

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Literary Agents: Debunking Some Myths by Alysoun Owen

Agents have three main roles: they are creatives, negotiators and sales people, combining good communication skills with a creative flair and a nose for what sells. A ‘good’ agent – i.e. one you might want to represent you – will combine these attributes. A sizeable part of an agent’s working day is devoted to managing the career of their established list of authors/clients.

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Writers Ink – can you afford not to join? by Nadia Ramoutar

Nadia Ramoutar a writer, filmmaker and artist living in Co. Wicklow, on the benefits of joining Writers Ink. Being a writer is a journey many people wish they had the courage to start or to stay with when things get hard. And they will get hard if you do it right. For those who have always wanted to write, beginning may seem like the greatest challenge.

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Clara and Christina by Andrew Cunning

Andrew Cunning, a writer and teacher from the north coast of Ireland, on the inspiration for and the fascinating background to his debut novel, Clara and Christina. Sometimes writers talk about their novels in ways I find hard to believe. Hilary Mantel said her books were directed by the dead, Toni Morrison talked about reviving ghosts and the work rememory in her writing, and Mary Shelley’s…

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Moon Child by Michael Coleman

I was saddened to receive Vanessa’s email about the death of Simon Trewin & I know many members attended his Zoom talks. I never did – I’m quiet. It moved me because my sister died within months of being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2017.

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Irish Bestsellers 25th July 2026

Writing.ie is the only place that you'll find the Irish bestsellers online, and this week, our featured book is by a firm favourite, Jane Casey. Everything She Didn't Say has taken the No. 1 slot in the Top 20 after shooting in at No 2. Featured in Good Housekeeping’s 50 must-reads books for the summer, here's the blurb: ‘Instantly gripping, it’s a masterpiece' …

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Voices of Gorey Community Choir by Grace O’Reilly

Singing in Voices of Gorey Community Choir On April 1st of this year, I ventured up to the Gaelscoil in Gorey, Co Wexford. I had heard of Voices of Gorey, I’d even been to nearly all of their concerts, but now I was walking up the road towards the local primary school to test the waters and become a member of Voices of Gorey.

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Anthology Flash Fiction Competition 2026

Competition deadline: 30th September 2026 Established to inspire creativity, great writing and to provide a platform for publication. The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition is open to original and previously unpublished flash fiction pieces on any theme or genre in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for writing that is clever and unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling story.

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Sleeping Beauties by Sam Holland

Bestselling author Sam Holland on the inspiration behind her utterly compelling, gritty and atmospheric detective thriller, Sleeping Beauties . . . It’s two o’clock in the morning. You’re tired, and it’s raining. You’d do anything to get home, and the shortest route is across the muddy dark common. Now imagine that you listened to the news this morning, gripped, as they reported yet another death.

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Reader Immersion: Really Useful Links by Lucy O’Callaghan

Reader immersion is widely recognised as one of the defining characteristics of effective fiction. When readers become fully absorbed in a story, they no longer feel like passive observers but instead experience events alongside the characters, sharing their thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. This encourages readers to form deeper emotional connections with the narrative, making stories more memorable and impactful. I have compiled some articles and podcasts that discuss how to create immersion in your fiction that captivates readers from beginning to end.

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JM Lane

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In the Woods: Fruitfully Lost, a Restorative In-Person Life Writing Retreat

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Little Oases by Carol Ballantine

Publisher Full Set has acquired Little Oases, a memoir by debut author Carol Ballantine, which is set to publish in spring 2027 in print, ebook and audiobook formats.  Publisher Eoin Purcell acquired world rights in all languages from Imogen Morrell at Greene & Heaton. Little Oases is a tender exploration of raising identical twins with gender identities that are anything but identical.

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Booker Prize 2026 Longlist Announced

The Booker Prize 2026 longlist has now been announced – a selection of 13 superb works of long-form fiction, chosen from 163 titles written in English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026.  As Mary Beard, Chair of this year’s judges, says: ‘Great books have never been written to a single formula. We are confident that our longlist of books has something for everyone.

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Why I Write by David Yearsley

David Yearsley, author of the Cloverdaisy series: how my granddaughters inspired me to write books for children . . . “We’ve read Narnia, Pops, and Alice in Wonderland. Please do something new for us like that?” As a self-published author used to writing things from ‘scratch’, a blank canvass, this is when the agility starts to mould creatures into their own being and not yet invented or named.

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The Binding: Open Call for Creatives

Application deadline: 31st August 2026 A brand-new international literary and creative festival, The Binding, is coming to Longford, Ireland this November. As part of The Binding festival, applications are now open for The Binding – PenPals Edition, an international online creative exchange bringing together writers, illustrators, poets, musicians and other creatives from around the world. Selected participants will take part in two online mentor-led gatherings designed to encourage meaningful connections, creative exchange and international collaboration.

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How We Write Together by Collette Lyons

Most people, on discovering that we are partners in crime (writing), are astonished that a married couple could stay married after writing four novels together as Ellery Lloyd. ‘If we tried, it would end in divorce!’ is what we hear most often. We certainly haven't perfected a process, but there are a few things we've learned along the way that make writing together a little easier.

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The Campervan Detectives by Maeve Haran

Bestselling author Maeve Haran on making the switch to crime writing while retaining her strongest theme of female friendship in The Campervan Detectives. I’ve had a fascinating career as a writer. It started in 1991 with the worldwide bestseller Having It All. Since then, I’ve written another twenty-one books, including two historical novels and one about life’s small pleasures. And then, two years ago I had a blip.

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Commit to your Writing by Alysoun Owen

Alysoun Owen, Editor of Editor of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook and the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook, on how best to commit to your writing . . . Be a committed writer. Write often. Perfect your craft. Be more like Trollope. Most likely as a fledging author, you will be dipping your toe in and out of the literary waters in a cautious and possibly apologetic way.

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The Hiding Season by A.C. Glass

Ava Glass is the CWA Dagger-shortlisted author of Alias Emma (The Chase), The Traitor and The Trap. She is an American-born novelist based in England, and a former crime reporter and communications consultant. The Hiding Season is her latest book, described as a psychological thriller with an ending that will take your breath away. This is my first time reading Ava Glass or A.C.

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Irish Bestsellers Week Ending 18th July 2026

Writing.ie is the only place that you'll find the Irish bestsellers online each week, and it's been a busy week for thrillers! When the world is (literally) on fire, many people turn to crime to be distracted from the mayhem...

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Never to be Found by Jo Spain

Never to be Found is a great read. I’d like to think I was the first to say that but I am not, everyone is talking about this book and the reason is very simple, it’s a really great read. Jo Spain has written a proper old school thriller about a woman who makes people, who need to disappear, disappear. It's called…

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