Louise Phillips's Blog, page 72

Merry Christmas!

So the Christmas tree is finally up, the food is in, and most of the pressies are bought, and considering how sick I've been with the flu for the last couple of weeks, that is a small miracle.

Tonight we have what we call our annual family Christmas party. It's a time we all used to gather together in our parent's house, siblings and grandchildren and grandparents, together. Now that both our parents are gone, we alternate between myself and my siblings for hosting the night. The young grandchildren have all grown up, and the next generation have arrived!! 

This is our year to host the annual get-together, and before I depart for the holidays, I wanted to wish you all a safe, happy and healthy Christmas. May 2014 be a great year, and fingers crossed a lot of happy memories will be formed.

All the best to you and yours.

xxx


Louise 

Want to win a FREE copy of The Doll's House - Winner of Best Irish Crime Novel 2013

As The Doll's House paperback has been out of stock on Amazon for nearly 2 weeks now, here's a nice competition for you!!

Anyone who orders it or Red Ribbons on Kindle from Amazon in the next few days, please let me know and I'll put your name into a draw for a signed free copy of the 1st Edition 'THE DOLL'S HOUSE' paperback!!!

I have a couple hidden in the attic!!

Here a lovely picture of me winning the award with State Pathologist, Marie Cassidy!! I think I look like I'm still in a daze, but receiving it from this wonderful lady was the icing on a very delicious cake!!


Photograph by Patrick Bolget

Crime Fiction Writing 8 Week Workshop at the IRISH WRITERS' CENTRE

Did you ever think Crime writing might be for you?
Have you the idea for a crime novel, or have you already started one and are looking for the impetus to finish it?
Do you want to really understand the genre, to look at tension, pace, creating memorable characters, writing effective dialogue, and producing a gripping story with plenty of twists and turns...then this could be for you!!!
FOR FULL DETAILS - VISIT HERE

Celebration!!

With all the madness over the last while, and then being struck down by the flu demon, I neglected to let you know that I have signed another 2 Book deal with Hachette Books - The contract has gone off in the post with my Christmas cards!!! 
So roll on 2014 and 2015! Only not too fast as I need to get an awful lot of writing done!!

First drafts are like lovers!

I know everyone says (including myself) that first drafts are simply that. They are the beginning not the end, and yes, I know, the best books aren't written, they're rewritten, but god oh god, first drafts are frustrating.

At first, as with all love affairs, they seem special. They are filled with endless possibilities, your head is dizzy with what the future holds for you both. In some ways, you're blind, because you have to be. There is no way of knowing the future, especially while you're creating it.

It's a time to be patient, a time to see what the new lover is all about, to give them time to grow and evolve into their full potential. All sounds very good, until the niggling doubts appear, and you wonder about this first draft - has it tricked you? How much work does it need? Will it ever be the wonderful lover you thought it would be, could be?

Right now, myself and my first draft are not seeing eye to eye. We are frustrated with each other, and not altogether sure about moving forward. We have gone from 45,000 words to less than 42,000 in the blink of an eye. We see each other's weaknesses and wonder can we move on from here. The future feels less than certain.

Nonetheless, here we are, and like all relationships that are worth anything, they require work. Time for a breather, me thinks, then I'll return to do battle again!
 

Dogs and the City!

This is a story of life, love, companionship and respect. 
Listen in HERE - you won't regret it!



Ger PhilpottGer Philpott is an award winning screenwriter and filmmaker. He writes for the print media, radio, screen and TV.His work includes the prizewining short films, Change and An Turas. He is the author of the best-selling book on AIDS, Deep End.He works as a writer, director, radio producer and freelance journalist.A keen gardener and accomplished cook he lives in Dublin. He is a current Irish Masters swimming record holder and breeds and exhibits Champion Weimaraner dogs.

Number Crunching!

I must be on the mend from this flu virus as I've started to read again, and do some useless number crunching stuff.

Last month was the highest recorded visits to the blog so far, nearly 10,000. I'm sure it was due in part to The Doll's House winning the Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year Award 2013 at the Irish Book Awards, but it also brings my blog hits to over the 150,000 mark.

Anyhow, here are some useless blog states for you for last month. United States looking good!!



Blog Visits last month
United States                    5,403Ireland                              1,207China                                   826Germany                              770United Kingdom                   437France                                  206Others                              1,105

Total                                9,954

My Mother's Hands

I've been very touched by the amount of people who read the story in the Irish Examiner and who've made contact with me in one way or another. 
It got me thinking about a poem I'd written a long time back. It was about my mother's hands. I realised I didn't have a copy of it anymore, but like all words that come from a place deep inside, they never really leave you. 
So I've put the poem below. I hope you enjoy it. The angels referred to are the two children my mother lost. Many others have suffered too, but here are a few small words about her. 
The image below is of my Mom as a young girl. At the very bottom are YouTube links to Mount Pleasant Buildings and the poverty within it. Thank you.


My Mother’s Hands

Her hands held little fingers with cold front door keys,wrapped a red coat over, protecting me from more than rain,pushed prams, peeled spuds,no lady hands, but lady owned.skin like alabaster, soft not weak,hands of pain, hands of an optimistic soul,sprouting blood bubbles in pin-pricked old age,folded quietly in gentle melancholy, stolen by her mind’s disease,in death as in life, angels drawn.



Part 1 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJhtNOkB07I
Part 2 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t3L-FPpd9U

Haunted by Mount Pleasant - Irish Examiner

Image by Nick Bradshaw - Irish ExaminerHaunted by Mount Pleasant Monday, December 09, 2013 - Victoria WhiteSTANDING up, as she’s about to leave, Louise Phillips, author of the just-named Irish Crime Novel of the Year The Doll’s House may have cried as she told me about the dark place where her novels originate.READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Francis MacManus Short Story Competition

This year marks the 26th anniversary of the RTÉ Radio 1 Short Story Competition, which over the years has proved to be the launching pad for many renowned Irish writers.
Submissions for the 2014 RTÉ Radio Short Story Competition in memory of Francis Mac Manus are now being accepted. 
The closing date for submissions is Friday 31 January, 2014.
Applications forms and guidelines can be  downloaded here  or obtained by post (Please include a stamped addressed envelope)  to:
The Francis Mac Manus Short Story Competition,
RTÉ Radio 1,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.

The three judges for 2014 are Christine Dwyer Hickey, Award winning novelist and short story writer, Julie Parsons, best selling author and former radio producer, Eoin Purcell, Editorial Director, New Island Books.