News from Town House about a forthcoming anthology which should interest fans of the long-running Sunday radio programme, Sunday Miscellany. The book, Sunday Miscellany: A selection from 1994 2000, has been edited by Marie Heaney and will be published in early October. Over the years, the Sunday morning programme has consistently attracted a loyal listenership - although Sadbh wonders how many of those listeners have been lively enough at nine on a Sunday morning to be up preparing breakfast, as Town House's optimistic PR spin would have it. "Every Sunday morning, for almost 30 years, we've spread the butter on our toast to the sound of many a strange tale . . ." Featured in the book are writers Vona Groarke, Sam McAughtry, Michael Harding, Ivy Bannister, Mary O'Donnell, Pat Boran, and the man with perhaps the most distinctive Sunday Miscellany voice of all - Peter Jankowsky. There are some 150 contributors to the anthology, and some names are lesser known than others, as the spirit of the Sunday programme has always included anyone with a good story, no matter who they are. Names previously unfamiliar to Sadbh are contributors Nicola Lindsay, Don Heenan and Richard Craig.
Waterstone's held a book launch for one of its own this week, when Irish writer John Boyne's first novel The Thief of Time was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. After working in Waterstone's headquarters in London for some time - while battering away at the obligatory novel - Boyne returned to Ireland, where he still earns a few shillings by working part-time in Dawson Street as a buyer. Well, buyers are the ones with a nose for the books which will sell, so The Thief of Time comes with inside knowledge. Boyne signed a two-book contract with Weidenfeld. His thief of time is a character who does not age, thus robbing more years than are his due, living through almost three centuries in the process.
On Tuesday, at the Old Museum Arts Centre in Belfast, there will be an unusual evening's entertainment of readings and music. The reader is Thomas Lynch, the Irish-American poet, essayist - and undertaker. The music is by band Northlight Razorblade, which has recently been attracting airplay attention. Lynch's trade has given him much material for his writing: his two collections of essays are The Undertaking, and Bodies in Motion and at Rest respectively. Northlight Razorblade is presumably hoping that its reputation will be enhanced, not buried, by sharing a stage with the erstwhile undertaker. More information on 004428-90872851; bookings from 00-442890235053.
On Thursday at 6 p.m. Waterstone's will present a reading by two Gallery poets, Eamon Grennan and Kerry Hardie, both of whom had books published recently. Grennan will be reading from his Selected and New Poems. Hardie, whose fine first collection was A Furious Place, will read from Cry for the Hot Belly, her second collection.
The Irish Writers' Centre is looking for a Development Officer, with experience in marketing and promotion - and who has a read a few books lately - to join its team. Miracles of miracles, but they actually advertise the salary in the e-mail Sadbh received. How many jobs connected with the arts ever put that vital piece of information down in black and white at the very beginning? Initial contract is for a year and the salary is £18,000. Closing date for applications is August 25th. More details from www.writerscentre.ie
Still on the Irish Writers' Centre, there is a Family Reading Day coming up in September, in association with Dublin Corporation and the National Reading Initiative. This is an opportunity for children to bring their favourite adults - and vice versa - along to the Parnell Square office on September 17th. Among the many activities will be the opportunity to meet some 25 children's authors; discussions and guides to books your children might like; rolling readings all day; and children talking about their own favourite books. Admission is free, but you have to, ahem, book in advance. More information from 01-8721302.
Meanwhile, a few miles south, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is searching for a new poet-in-residence. Bards need to get their applications in by September 15th. The start date had not yet been decided, but the period of residency will be for six to eight months. The successful candidate - who will need to have had "works published in recent years" - will be given the opportunity to work on their own poems, in addition to initiating and seeing through a community-based literature project. Sadbh received no details of salary, but you may find out more if you call 01-2054719, or e-mail arts@dlrcoco.ie