Christmas Book Fair & Joycean themed readings
The Dubliners Christmas Book Market will be held on December 14th in the James Joyce Centre, from 2-4.30pm, with Joycean readings from a host of people including Senator David Norris, accompanying a book market from Dublin publishers/booksellers including: Liberties Press, Lilliput Press, New Island Books, Tramp Press, Swan River Press, The Salvage Press, Little Island, Gorse, The Stinging Fly, New Dublin Press, the Royal Irish Academy and Fighting Words, with donations from the day going towards Fighting Words also.
Pop-up book shop
The Dublin Independent Publishers are opening a pop-up bookshop for December in 27 Lower South William St, opening from 11am-7.30pm daily. The launch party on Thursday, December 4th.
Fish Short Story competition
The deadline for the popular Fish Anthology short story competition is November 30th. Stories of up to 5,000 words are accepted, with a €20 entry fee for the first story and €10 for all subsequent entries. The winner will receive €3,000 and be published in the 2015 Fish Anthology, along with nine other shortlisted stories and the best pieces from the flash fiction and poetry competitions. Jennifer Johnston is this year’s short fiction judge.
Irish Writers Centre bursary award
A celebratory evening for the writer Jack Harte will be held at the Irish Writers Centre on December 4th. It will include the announcement of the winner of the Jack Harte Bursary, which was launched earlier this year in association with the Tyrone Guthrie Centre. The award offers a two-week fully resourced residency at the centre in the spring of 2015. An unsung hero of the Irish literary scene, Harte was instrumental in the establishment of the Irish Writers’ Union and the Irish Writers Centre. A portrait by the artist Henry J Sharpe will be unveiled, in addition to readings and performances by seasoned writers and poets.
Bray Arts Show
The Bray Arts Show takes place on December 1st, with a number of diverse events including a performance by the Greystones Ukulele Orchestra and a presentation by the artist Mary Duffy. The writer Jessica Traynor, recipient of the 2014 Ireland Chair of Poetry Bursary and the 2013 Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year, will read a selection of her work, including extracts from her debut collection of poetry, Liffey Swim.
Bookshop birthdays
Dubray Books celebrates its 20th anniversary on December 4th in the Swan Centre in Rathmines. A celebration night with readings and interviews with bestselling authors such as Joe O’Connor is planned. Meanwhile, the Gutter Book Shop in Temple Bar celebrates its fifth birthday this month, with plans for mince pies and celebrations in December. Its ever popular book clubs are taking place in the shop throughout November. John Boyne’s A History of Loneliness, Phillip Meyer’s The Son and Patricia Highsmith’s dark thriller The Talented Mr Ripley are on the agenda for this month’s discussions.
Contact sarah.gilmartin@gmail.com with your literary listings
