Writerly News Nuggets. Grammar Grouches and Pink Cages

News about a flash fiction competition, pink cages and the melding of poetry and photos.

Copies of The Pink Cage Sold

Last night, I sold two more copies of The Pink Cage. An email had been buried in my inbox, requesting two copies, and it only emerged yesterday. I replied to it, and within hours, the two copies were sold. Thanks to Maura O'Sullivan, a fine writer herself and member of Tramore Writers. Hope you enjoy the read.

And, pluggety plug, if you want a copy, drop me an email on derbhile@writewords.ie.

Here’s the cover of The Pink Cage, which shows a little girl with white hair walking along a beach. She holds a pink bucket. The words The Pink Cage are written in graffiti style letters, and my name is underneath in black.

Return of the Grammar Grouch

Long-time readers of my newsletter will remember The Grammar Grouch, that awkward pedant who was so puzzled by how people use the English language. During the Christmas madness, the Grouch discovered the existence of a strange substance called 'pouring cream.'

Surely all cream is poured, unless you whip it, he thought. Why specify that it is pouring cream. Surely this was a tautology. When he raised this vital issue, he was met with shrugs. He still has no answer to his perfectly valid question.

Exhibition of Poems and Photos

The poet Mark Roper creates work that responds to the natural environment around him, and he often collaborates with photographers. His latest collaboration will be on display at the Coastguard Cultural Centre in Tramore, Co. Waterford, from 3 February to 28 February. It's a book of poems inspired by the Japanese Gardens in Tramore, accompanied by photographs from Margaret O'Brien Moran.

Five Lamps Festival Flash Fiction Competition

I saw an interesting looking competition being run as part of the Five Lamps Festival. It's a flash fiction competition accepting entries of 500 words or less, and you have to have your entries in by Wednesday 19 February. First prize is €250, plus publication in The Dublin Inquirer. One of the judges is Mary O'Donnell, who writes brilliant short stories. If you want to enter, have a read of the details.

RIP To A Local Writer

The poetry world is quite rightly in mourning for Michael Longley, but I was saddened to hear about the death of a writer closer to home. Veronica (Ronnie) Mackessy was a witty, concise and entertaining writer. She won a local writing competition that I judged and I was touched to see how thrilled she was. My sympathies to all at Tramore Writers, of which she was a loyal member.