The standing army of Irish writers marches on, but cannot march on an empty stomach. Those looking for information about how they can - or can't - make money out of writing will have an opportunity to do so on December 2nd. The Written Arts Association is holding a one-day publishing seminar for creative writers at the Writers Museum to offer answers to some commonly-asked questions. There will be four guest speakers on the day, who should be well able to handle whatever questions are asked. They are Treasa Coady of Town House/Simon and Schuster Publishing; Anthony Farrell, publisher of Lilliput Press; Seamus Cashman, publisher of Wolfhound Press and literary agent Faith O'Grady of the Lisa Richards Literary Agency. Sadbh notes with some amusement that the press release says "the seminar will be of interest to all creative writers - whether they be poets, short story writers, novelists, or journalists." Journalists? Is this a suggestion that journalists sit down and invent their copy? Perhaps the Written Arts Association need to think about the wording of that press release before they send it out to any more journalists. There are places for about 100 people on the day; tickets are £30 including lunch. More information from 012845196 or www.irishwriter.ie
Inis Oirr writer, Dara O Conaola, has recently reissued Misiun ar Muir/Sea Mission, a dual-language novella first published in 1992. The translation is by poet Gabriel Rosenstock and the illustrations are by Tommy Baker. This story has had another incarnation: it was staged at the Galway Arts Festival in 1992. The dualtranslation edition will be of interest to Irish students who want something lively to practise their Irish with. The books are £4, and available at Ceardshiopa Inis Oirr Teo. For those who can't make it out to the island to get their copy, e-mail the author at dara@aran-islands.net and he'll sort out some post and packing deal with you.
The Strokestown Poetry Prize, which offers a whacking £3,000 for best unpublished poem is once again looking for entries. With money like that on offer, Sadbh doesn't think they'll have too many problems soliciting entries. The second prize is £1,000, the third is £500, and there are several £50 runners-up. There is also an Irish language poetry prize, with £1,000 as the top purse. There are three judges, and Sadbh is told that the judges read all the poems, which must be a full-time job in itself. There is a separate judge for the Irishlanguage prize. There is also a category for political satire. Entry fee is £3 per poem. More information from www.strokestownpoetryprize.com or get an entry form by sending an SAE to Poetry Festival, Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
If you think leprechauns belong in tacky gift shops and only good for raising a laugh (Sadbh found one recently that sings When Irish Eyes Are Smiling when its green hat is pressed) think again. Eoin Colfer, who teaches at Coolcotts National School in Wexford, was a shining star at the recent Frankfurt Book Fair, where bidding was frenzied for the rights of his children's book, Artemis Fowl. The 12-yearold lad in the book has adventures with "fairies, leprechauns, and the world of magic". Colfer got an impressive £500,000 sterling advance from Penguin and the film rights were optioned for £350,000. Interesting to see children's authors beginning to attract the large advances regularly paid to writers of adults' fiction. The first Harry Potter advance for J.K. Rowling was a mere £2,800 - mind, you, she's made up for it since.
Fans of Are You Somebody? will be wondering how Nuala O Faolain has been getting on with her first novel. Sadbh hears that My Dream of You is the title of the forthcoming novel from O Faolain, which will be published by Michael Joseph in April. The novel tells the story of Kathleen, an Irish travel writer based in London, who hasn't been home since she was 20. But over a period of a few weeks, circumstances change for Kathleen and she has return home to face the past - her own and that of others.