BOOKS & LITERATURE

Dark, Witty, Poignant Observational Discourse On A City And A Person

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Christophe Owens already has collected much writing kudos from debut collection, A Vortex of Securocrats, with authors, musicians and commentator heaping praise on its hellish visions of post-conflict Belfast. To follow it ups Owens takes the reader back to the streets of the city in ‘dethrone god’. Here the comparison ends. The novella is chock […]

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Belfast Author Launches Latest Book, As A Love Letter To Belfast

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Belfast-based author Christopher Owens has launched his latest book, ‘dethrone god’, as a follow-up to his debut collection, A Vortex of Secutocrats. Published by Brighton’s experimental company Sweat Drenched Press, is an amusing, poignant and thought provoking story that takes the reader along the struggles getting home from a night at a city centre pub.

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Creative Events To Inspire Children At Young Aspects

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Aspects Festival has unveiled its exciting Young Aspects programme, offering a range of creative children’s events suitable for all ages. Taking place from 1 – 3 March, at various locations around Bangor, the diverse programme of reading, writing and art events promises to inspire young imaginations. The festival is delighted to welcome Big Wave Surfer,

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Matthew Bell To Officially Launch Book At Belfast Central Library

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Former pro hockey player Matthew Bell will launch his memoir Second Chances at Central Library in Belfast later this month. The book, released in December last year, tells the incredible story of Matthew’s battle with brain cancer and the gruelling recovery that followed. Once an international hockey player, Matthew’s life was upended while playing professionally

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NI’s First EU Ambassador Recalls Journey & First Steps As Young Diplomat In New Book

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The first EU Ambassador for Northern Ireland, William D. Hanna has released his entertaining and engaging new memoir The Corncrake’s Welcome: Memoirs of a Northern Irish Diplomat. Born in Belfast, William D. Hanna recalls his remarkable journey as the first EU Ambassador for Northern Ireland, brilliantly marrying personal story, family history and political context. The Presbyterian

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GALLERY: Matthew Bell Launches Book At Banbridge Hockey Club

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Former pro hockey player Matthew Bell recently celebrated the launch of his new book Second Chances at Banbridge Hockey Club. The remarkable memoir recounts Matthew’s battle with brain cancer, the gruelling recovery process that followed and getting back to the sport he loves. Matthew was joined at the event by friends and family as well

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The Power Of A Positive Mentality: Matthew Bell On His Second Chance

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Pro hockey player Matthew Bell was at the top of his game. In 2016 he was gearing up for the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. When he didn’t make the cut for the sporting world’s biggest stage, he thought he was having the worst day of his life. He had no idea what was ahead

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New Memoir ‘Second Chances’ Recounts Pro Hockey Player’s Battle With Brain Cancer

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Craigavon born pro hockey player Matthew Bell thought not being selected for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro was the worst day of his life. Little did he know the hardest times were ahead of him. Once an international hockey player, Matthew’s life was upended when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour

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New Chapter For Translink’s Novel Journeys

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To celebrate Book Week NI, Translink has announced the addition of Libraries NI as a partner for its Novel Journeys book club, which encourages passengers to sit back during their journey and unravel in a range of riveting books for all ages. In today’s faced paced world, it can be hard to find time to

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Video Trailer For Belfast Author’s Debut Book

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Writer Christopher Owens, had launched a video to celebrate his debut book, ‘A Vortex of Securocrats’ reaching the milestone of 100 sales. A Vortex of Securocrats is a work that observes, through prose and poetry, the crushing conformity of a post war Northern Ireland, and how that has impacted on those who live there. “The

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Northern Irish Author Louise Davidson To Release Spooky Halloween Novel Inspired By Childhood In Belfast

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A dark and twisting gothic mystery, The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond is a haunting coming of age debut exploring the supernatural world of tarot and fortune telling alongside the lot of women in Victorian England. 1891 Norfolk. A large manor house, Mistcoate House, sits deep in the countryside surrounded on all sides by thick black woods. It is the home

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New Book Reimagines Traditional Local Folk Stories For New Generations

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A new book of folk stories has been launched by local storyteller and musician Colin Urwin, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Museum Services. The Iron Hag and Other Stories from the Sam Henry Collection was produced as part of the Sam Henry: Connecting with the Past, Collecting for the Future project, funded by

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The Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics Returns With A Feast Of Events

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The Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics today launched its full 2023 programme with Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Christina Black and other guests. This year’s festival, taking place from March 20-26 2023, will explore the theme, ‘Brain Food: A Feast of Ideas for A Better World’ with a programme of film, humour, talks, music, poetry, theatre, exhibitions, tours,

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NI Schoolgirl Brings Bestselling Children’s Book To The Stage In Aid Of NSPCC

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Author hails Co Antrim teenager as ‘major new talent’ after 15-year-old adapts hard-hitting novel into modern-day musical A musical written by a 15-year-old Co Antrim schoolgirl will be staged later this month at the McNeill Theatre in Larne. Keira Aiken, a pupil at Belfast High School, wrote and composed Bully – A New Musical when she was

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New Book Lifts Kid On Forced Displacement During The Troubles

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Refugees and Forced Displacement in Northern Ireland’s Troubles is a 262-page book looking at how both Catholics and Protestants fled their homes and sought safety and refuge during the thirty-year conflict. Written by Dr Niall Gilmartin, Lecturer in Sociology at Ulster University and Dr Brendan Ciaran Browne, Lecturer in Conflict Transition at Trinity College Dublin,

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Belfast International Arts Festival Announces Line-up For 2022

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The Belfast International Arts Festival has announced the line-up for this year’s programme. Established in 1962, the BIAF is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a new extended season of over 300 events that celebrate the best in local and global contemporary art. The season opens on October 5 with the UK premiere of Frank McGuiness’

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Northern Ireland Authors To Appear At Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival

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Murder One, Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival is back with a bang from 4-9 October with a host of in person and online events, with some of crime fiction’s most wanted authors. After two years online, Ireland’s celebration of the genre returns at a new venue, Dun Laoghaire’s stunning dlr LexIcon Library and Cultural Centre,

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Northern Ireland Authors To Appear At Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival

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Murder One, Ireland’s International Crime Writing Festival is back with a bang from 4-9 October with a host of in person and online events, with some of crime fiction’s most wanted authors. After two years online, Ireland’s celebration of the genre returns at a new venue, Dun Laoghaire’s stunning dlr LexIcon Library and Cultural Centre,

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Belfast International Arts Festival Announces Lineup for 2022

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The Belfast International Arts Festival has announced the line-up for this year’s programme. Established in 1962, the BIAF is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a new extended season of over 300 events that celebrate the best in local and global contemporary art. The season opens on October 5 with the UK premiere of Frank McGuiness’

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Take A Novel Journey Of Exploration At Belfast Book Festival

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Translink’s Novel Journeys Book Club has teamed up with Belfast Book Festival for a special event highlighting self-exploration. Two of Northern Ireland’s most inspired writers will take to the stage for a focused panel discussion on Friday 17 June at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. Author Bernie McGill will field questions about her latest

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Local Author on board with Translink’s Novel Journeys for International Women’s Day

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Translink is marking International Women’s Day with a brand-new format for their monthly Novel Journeys Book Club. The online book club, in partnership with independent bookstore No Alibis has marked its anniversary with an expanded offering for its second year. The new ‘Novel Journeys Monthly Digest’ will include a book pick for children as well

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Award Winning Author & Illustrator Announced as New Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland

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Award-winning author and illustrator Paul Howard has accepted the post as the new Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University Belfast. The Fellowship was created as part of Queen’s University and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s joint ten-year Seamus Heaney Legacy project supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies. Paul

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Entertainment Briefs: The Hairy Bikers Top The Christmas Cookbook Charts!

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The Hairy Bikers have roared to the top of a Christmas cookbook chart for the first time. Si King and David Myers held off a last minute challenge from Dame Mary Berry to become 2021’s top selling celebrity chefs. Food blogger Jane Dunn, the Great British Bake Off team, Jamie Oliver and Gino D’Acampo complete

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Maghera Mum Turns Storytime For Kids Into Publishing Business

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I’d better start writing down the bedtime stories – and The Weatherbies were born When Maghera mum, Yvonne Fleming, began to tell her two children night-time tales, little did she know that she would end up with a series of books, animations and a potential TV deal all based on her Weatherbies characters. Yvonne was

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News in Brief: Yvonne Fleming Has Created A New Songbook For Her Weatherbies Characters

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A local children’s author has released their debut album to coincide with their 4th book release. Yvonne Fleming has created a new songbook for her Weatherbies characters, which she created to entertain the children she was looking after. The book ‘Sing a song with the Weatherbies’ contains 13 tracks, and aims to help parents educate

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Entertainment Briefs: Harry Potter Dominates List Of Favourite Best Loved Books

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Harry Potter dominates a definitive list of the nation’s top 10 best-loved books – but fails to make the number one spot. Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code is named as the best book of the past 20 years in the survey. But all seven of J K Rowling’s tales of the boy wizard bagged top

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​​Programme for 15th Outburst Queer Art Festival Announced

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From epic to intimate, live to online, local to international, the fifteenth annual Outburst Queer Art Festival has an incredible array of art and events showcasing queer talent. With a centrepiece of Conor Mitchell’s MASS, bringing together the 64 musicians of the Ulster Orchestra, acclaimed Irish soprano Giselle Allen and six international film makers, this

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6 Arts Events To Check Out At The Belfast International Arts Festival

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The Belfast International Arts Festival event is back this year for its 59th edition and with an impressive range of events to check out across the city, everyone of all ages and tastes can enjoy Northern Ireland’s longest-running international arts festival.  This year’s mission is to be a leading progessive international arts festival within Northern

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Linen Hall Library Presents Ireland Divided: A Linen Hall Perspective 

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While it may be the oldest library in Belfast, the Linen Hall Library is home to many cultural and creative events throughout the year. Through a series of new, insightful exhibitions taking place this October, the Linen Hall Library will focus on the partition of Ireland in 1921. The 1921 Partition of Ireland is a

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Translink launches first virtual book club event for ‘Novel Journeys’

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Translink has announced the line-up for its first ‘Novel Journeys’ virtual book club event, which will coincide with NI Book Week. The guest panel will include David Torrans, owner of No Alibis Bookstore, authors Shirley-Anne McMillan and Brian McGilloway, and book blogger Sian McQuillan. Taking place on Thursday 21st October at 7pm, the book club

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Irish Premiere of Cathy Brady’s IFTA-winning Film WILDFIRE Starring Nika McGuigan and Nora-Jane Noone

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Wildcard Distribution with Clones Film Festival supported by Monaghan County Council will host a special premiere screening of Cathy Brady’s WILDFIRE starring Nika McGuigan and Nora-Jane Noone in Barry McGuigan Park in Clones, Monaghan this coming Sunday, 29th August. The special outdoor screening will be dedicated to the memory of the late Nika McGuigan, who won

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July Events at Linen Hall Library

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Politics, Feminism, history and crime are the themes at Linen Hall Library in July. Through a mix of in-person and online events, visitors can explore prominent female voices through history and join in for two exciting new book launches and further discussions. Here’s what you can expect from Linen Hall this month: As the extraORDINARY

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Revel In The Riches Of Armagh’s Historic Past Museums & Libraries

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Armagh County Museum, Robinson Library and the Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Library & Archive have safely reopened for pre-booked visits. Before closing their doors in line with restrictions last December, the popular tourist destinations had become a major local, national and international hub of Armagh’s rich history and heritage, with visitors travelling from near and

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Creativity Belongs Outside – Samsung KX announces the launch of ‘Wild Writing’

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Samsung KX announced the launch of ‘Wild Writing’, a series that focuses on how to elevate your creative writing skills using the great outdoors as your creative muse, all via the new Samsung Galaxy Book Pro.  New research commissioned by Samsung KX found that nearly a third of Brits named ‘creative writing’ as one of

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Get Ready for Wild World Heroes, Summer Reading Challenge 2021

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Get ready for Wild World Heroes, Summer Reading Challenge 2021, online and in libraries across Northern Ireland from now until 18 September 2021. The Summer Reading Challenge is delivered in partnership with The Reading Agency and WWF and will encourage reading for pleasure for children aged 4 to 11 over the summer holidays. This year’s

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The Night Always Comes: Willy Vlautin in Conversation

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HomePlace is delighted to welcome back author and musician Willy Vlautin, who will be chatting to Belfast-based journalist Stuart Bailie from his home in Oregan. Willy Vlautin is the author of five novels, including The Motel Life; Lean on Pete, which was shortlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and made into an acclaimed film by Andrew

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Crime author joins Belfast 247 presenting team

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James Murphy to showcase the best of crime fiction Author, James Murphy is joining the Belfast 247 radio presentation team with an exclusive two-hour slot each Wednesday evening with a show dedicated to the world of crime books and shows. From 7-9pm James will talk to guest authors, review books, and host a guide to

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The Belfast Book Festival is Back for 2021

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The Belfast Book Festival, Northern Ireland’s leading literary festival Returns from 10-13 June with an online programme of live events. This year’s festival will explore various themes, including sexuality, abuse, feminism, love, and more.  Kicking off the three-day event is a panel discussion about issues affecting poets and the spoken word community. ‘Poetry In Focus’

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