Louise Phillips's Blog, page 79
July 5, 2013
Mothers & Babies Feature Irish Independent
For anyone who missed yesterday's feature!
Changing Times
The kidnap of children is a rare occurrence but parents can help allay their fears by talking openly to their children
Article by Linda Daly of the Irish Independent Mothers & Babies Supplement, discussing the research behind RED RIBBONS, and how we each need to plan ahead.
In her novel RED RIBBONS, Dublin author Louise Phillips tackles the issue of child safety during that pre-adolescent transitional period. The book opens with the abduction and murder of two 12-year-old girls. "I picked that age because something happens when children reach pre-adolescence and forge their own independence. It's a very vulnerable time for you as a parent and for them as young adults," she says.
In Red Ribbons, Phillips, herself a mother of three and grandmother of one, details the worst fears of any parent. "I didn't set out to write the book to scare people but I wanted to give a good emotional insight into something like this. It's almost a subject we don't talk about," she says.
"When I was growing up, we played on the street. As time is going on, there's less of that happening. To an extent, our children are missing that interaction with the street. That can be a good thing in some ways but it can also be a bad thing, especially when they're taking that leap to meet friends."
In the course of her writing Phillips did a lot of research, working with detectives in Rathfarnham and Tallaght garda stations in Dublin. She says she discovered the importance of parents putting certain safeguards in place. "For example, if a child, elderly person or someone with a disability goes missing, straight away they are assigned to category one, which is high risk," says Phillips. "These are grouping that are more susceptible to something going wrong."
PLANNING AHEAD
Phillips acknowledges that child abduction isn't something that happens every day, but says it is important that parents and children plan for the unforeseen. "Sit down with your children and discuss a plan. Know all the mobile and landline numbers of their friends, and know where they are going to be and what time they're due back," she says.
"When a child or a young adult goes missing, every second counts, especially those moments directly afterwards. The closer you are to pinpointing that moment, the better. You don't want a situation whereby you're ringing Mary to find out Jane's mobile number. You need to have those things in place. When you're frantic, it's not the time to be looking for all those pieces of information."
Phillips says it's important to let children know that the 'boogie man' may not look dangerous. "People who do bad things don't display clues. They can be charming, inoffensive, friendly, helpful, and very capable of manipulation. They tend to plan or have thought about their actions for a protracted period beforehand, and will actively endeavour to gain the trust of another, to manipulate and coerce."
She says communication with your child is key to ensuring their safety."Talk openly and honestly with your son or daughter about the very thing you want them to avoid, becauses sometimes facing our fear can be the best way of avoiding it."Red Ribbons is now available in paperback at bookstores nationwide, as well as Tesco and Dunnes Stores. Phillips' second novel, The Doll's House, is due for release in August.
REDUCING THE RISK
Phillips has the following tips on keeping your children safe.Keep in touch with your child even if you think you know where they are.Know the times they are due back.Know who they are with.Ensure you have a list of phone numbers of each of their friends and their friends' parents.Have their friends over often or engage with them in their external activities.Watch out for tell-tale signs. If your child's behaviour changes, there is usually a reason. Finding out why can make all the difference.A mobile phone could be one of the most valuable forms of protection your child can have.Despite giving you the impression that they think you know nothing, they do listen to what you say - it is vital to recognise and acknowledge this.
Changing Times
The kidnap of children is a rare occurrence but parents can help allay their fears by talking openly to their children
Article by Linda Daly of the Irish Independent Mothers & Babies Supplement, discussing the research behind RED RIBBONS, and how we each need to plan ahead.
In her novel RED RIBBONS, Dublin author Louise Phillips tackles the issue of child safety during that pre-adolescent transitional period. The book opens with the abduction and murder of two 12-year-old girls. "I picked that age because something happens when children reach pre-adolescence and forge their own independence. It's a very vulnerable time for you as a parent and for them as young adults," she says.
In Red Ribbons, Phillips, herself a mother of three and grandmother of one, details the worst fears of any parent. "I didn't set out to write the book to scare people but I wanted to give a good emotional insight into something like this. It's almost a subject we don't talk about," she says.
"When I was growing up, we played on the street. As time is going on, there's less of that happening. To an extent, our children are missing that interaction with the street. That can be a good thing in some ways but it can also be a bad thing, especially when they're taking that leap to meet friends."
In the course of her writing Phillips did a lot of research, working with detectives in Rathfarnham and Tallaght garda stations in Dublin. She says she discovered the importance of parents putting certain safeguards in place. "For example, if a child, elderly person or someone with a disability goes missing, straight away they are assigned to category one, which is high risk," says Phillips. "These are grouping that are more susceptible to something going wrong."
PLANNING AHEAD
Phillips acknowledges that child abduction isn't something that happens every day, but says it is important that parents and children plan for the unforeseen. "Sit down with your children and discuss a plan. Know all the mobile and landline numbers of their friends, and know where they are going to be and what time they're due back," she says.
"When a child or a young adult goes missing, every second counts, especially those moments directly afterwards. The closer you are to pinpointing that moment, the better. You don't want a situation whereby you're ringing Mary to find out Jane's mobile number. You need to have those things in place. When you're frantic, it's not the time to be looking for all those pieces of information."
Phillips says it's important to let children know that the 'boogie man' may not look dangerous. "People who do bad things don't display clues. They can be charming, inoffensive, friendly, helpful, and very capable of manipulation. They tend to plan or have thought about their actions for a protracted period beforehand, and will actively endeavour to gain the trust of another, to manipulate and coerce."
She says communication with your child is key to ensuring their safety."Talk openly and honestly with your son or daughter about the very thing you want them to avoid, becauses sometimes facing our fear can be the best way of avoiding it."Red Ribbons is now available in paperback at bookstores nationwide, as well as Tesco and Dunnes Stores. Phillips' second novel, The Doll's House, is due for release in August.
REDUCING THE RISK
Phillips has the following tips on keeping your children safe.Keep in touch with your child even if you think you know where they are.Know the times they are due back.Know who they are with.Ensure you have a list of phone numbers of each of their friends and their friends' parents.Have their friends over often or engage with them in their external activities.Watch out for tell-tale signs. If your child's behaviour changes, there is usually a reason. Finding out why can make all the difference.A mobile phone could be one of the most valuable forms of protection your child can have.Despite giving you the impression that they think you know nothing, they do listen to what you say - it is vital to recognise and acknowledge this.
Short Stories get their rightful place in the Irish Book Awards!!
It's brilliant news that www.writing.ie, the brainchild of Vanessa O'Loughlin, is behind the creation of this New Irish Book Award for Short Story of the Year .....See details belowWriting.ie is very excited to announce a new category in the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards – a much anticipated recognition of a form that Irish writers excel at – the Writing.ie Short Story of the Year Award.The Irish short story has a distinctive place in the modern Irish literary tradition. Many of Ireland’s most celebrated writers, both in English and Irish, have been practitioners of the genre, its roots without doubt, in our ancient tradition of story-telling. Indeed, many award winning novelists have launched their careers with short stories, gaining recognition through a form that the internet has breathed new life into, by providing writers with new places to publish, making their work accessible to millions of potential readers with the click of a mouse.From Conan Doyle’s adventures of Sherlock Holmes to James Joyce’s “epiphanies”, as Flannery O’Connor put it, in Writing Short Stories. “A story is a way to say something that can’t be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is. You tell a story because a statement would be inadequate. When anybody asks what a story is about, the only proper thing is to tell him to read the story. The meaning of fiction is not abstract meaning but experience meaning, and the purpose of making statements about the meaning of a story is only to help you to experience that meaning more fully.”This new category in the prestigious Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards, the Writing.ie Short Story of the Year Award, is open to short stories of up to 7000 words published between 1st Nov 2012 and 31st October 2013 in any of the following contexts: a collection of short stories by a single author; an anthology of short stories; or an established journal or magazine, digital or print, that has been in existence for at least six months within the period of eligibility.READ MORE HERE
July 3, 2013
Niamh Boyce - The Herbalist - Blog Tour Stop 4th July!!
I'm delighted to have Niamh Boyce, author of an utterly amazing debut novel, THE HERBALIST, visit the blog today. It has been receiving rave reviews, and deservedly so!!!
You can read my little old review of The Herbalist HERE
Having gone through the debut publishing experience myself, I was keen to find out from Niamh how the last twelve months has been for her, and what wise gems she might share.
So put on the kettle and settle back!!!
Can you give an overview of where you were at with your writing this time last year?
Thanks for having me over Louise! As for last year - one highlight was winning the Hennessy XO New Irish Writer of the Year for my poem Kitty. The other highlight, of course, was when my first novel, The Herbalist, became one of the winners of the Irish Writers Centre's Novel Fair competition. It was there that I met Ger Nichol from The Book Bureau and Patricia Deevy from Penguin, both of whom loved the book from day one.
So the 'New Irish Writing Page' edited by Ciaran Carty and The Irish Writers Centre both played an important role in my writing life last year. It was a busy and happy time for me.
What is the most important thing you have learnt about your writing during the last twelve months?
What have I learnt about my writing? That's a hard one. I've suppose I've realised there was something very special about the fire and energy with which I wrote The Herbalist, and that each novel I write will bring its own energy, its own method. What works for one book doesn't necessarily work for the next. For instance I wrote The Herbalist by hand, early in the morning. I felt it was the only way to access the voices of the book. But I'm typing most of my current novel as I feel it suits the story, and the voices. For some scenes, however, I find myself switching back to pen and notebook again. I write by hand when I want to go deeper, when I feel a character resisting, when I want to know a secret!
Rhythm is important to me too, and writing by hand can help access the rhythm of a book in a way typing doesn't. These notions that I have are true for me now, today, but of course by next month I may have changed my mind and be dictating the book by voice recognition... I'm very open to changing my mind, to being wrong. I think that's important for a writer.
What causes the greatest challenge/frustration with your writing?
The greatest challenge is getting the time to write. Like most writers I don't write full time - I have a day job, I have a family, so I am constantly finding ways to juggle them all. But then again there are worse things to juggle than something you absolutely love doing :-)
READ MORE ABOUT NIAMH BOYCE AND THE HERBALIST HERE
And if you want to read a book like no other out this year - Go pick up a copy!!!
July 2, 2013
Mothers & Babies - Talking RED RIBBONS 4th July!
For all 2 or 3 of you out there who might be interested, if you pick up a copy of the Mothers & Babies magazine of the Irish Independent this Thursday, 4th July, I'll be chatting with the lovely Linda Daly about my research for RED RIBBONS, and about how we can each make a difference in the protection of our children.
July 1, 2013
RED LINE POETRY COMPETITION ANNOUNCED!!!
The Red Line Festival will take place from October 15th to 20th 2013, so keep the dates free in your diary!
If you are poetic, this might be of interest for you!!!
Red Line Poetry CompetitionThe inaugural poetry competition is now open and accepting entries.
First prize is €300, second prize is €200 and the third prize is €100.
All shortlisted entrants will be invited to read their poems at an event in The Red Line Book Festival this October.
The competition is open to everyone living on the island of Ireland, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. There is no fee to enter. The maximum number of entries per person is 2. The closing date for entries is Friday 30th August 2013.
The competition rules and entry forms can be downloaded from the website: www.redlinebookfestival.com
The Red Line Poetry Competition will be judged by the poet Alan Jude Moore.
Alan Jude Moore is from Dublin. He has published three poetry collections: Black State Cars (Salmon Poetry, 2004), Lost Republics (Salmon Poetry, 2004) and Strasbourg (Salmon Poetry, 2010). A new collection is due to be published later this year. His fiction has been shortlisted for the Hennessy New Irish Writing Award and his work has been translated into Italian, Russian and Turkish. He has read and performed at many events in Ireland and abroad, including Electric Picnic; the Dublin Book Festival; The Istanbul International Poetry Festival; The Henry Miller Memorial Library, California; Loyola University, Los Angeles; and the Nabokov Museum, St. Petersburg.He is the editor of the online literary magazine The Burning Bush 2 www.burningbush2 His website is: www.alanjudemoore.com
For all other information about the RED LINE FESTIVAL - Visit - www.redlinebookfestival.com/
June 28, 2013
TallaFest - Let the games begin!!
Lots happening as part of Tallafest 2013, on the 6th & 7th July!! We have Nature and Historical walks, we have Music, we have things for the children, Mobile Farms, Storytelling, Puppet shows, Face Painting, Balloons, we have photography exhibitions, we have sporting activities, and tons more, including a writing workshop!!!
Writing Workshop with Louise Phillips - Saturday 6th July 3.30 p.m. - 5.00p.m.
The Abberley Court Hotel
All events are free, but pre-event booking is required. To book for the workshop or any of the other amazing events, all you have to do is this!!!
Phone (01) 4521071 - Leave a message with your name and the eventText 086 7238373 - With your name and the eventEmail - tallaghtfest@gmail.com or goOnline to register www.tallafest.com/register.html
FOR ALL DETAILS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING YOU CAN VISIT..... HERE
June 27, 2013
Have you ever considered where you might hide a body???
Intensive Crime Writing Week with Arlene Hunt
Guest Speakers include Alex Barclay, Louise Phillips, Declan Burke and more...
29th July to 2nd August: 10.30am-5pm €450/420 members at The Irish Writers Centre
Have you ever considered where you might hide a body? Thought about being the gumshoe who follows clues to find a killer? Daydreamed on a Monday morning where you might like to retire with the proceeds of ill-gotten gains? If so, join author and publisher, Arlene Hunt, to explore the underlying themes of crime fiction. Focusing on characters, plot development, story arcs and mystery, we will dissect our story with gory relish. We will explore intent and red herrings, create tension; and ultimately unmask our villain.This is a writing-heavy, intensive course that deals with the complicated business of crime fiction. Over five days we are going to develop and craft a functional crime fiction novella- to be read on the final day.Not for the faint hearted!
Arlene Hunt is the author of seven crime fiction novels, five of which feature the popular Quick Investigation duo, John Quigley and Sarah Kenny. She is also the co-owner of Portnoy Publishing and regularly reviews novels for RTE's Arena.
She lived in Barcelona for five years and now resides in Dublin with her husband, Andrew. Her books have been translated into three languages and her current novel – a standalone set the US – entitled The Chosen, was voted as TV3's Book of the Month for November 2011. An earlier novel, Undertow (2008), was short listed for best crime novel at The Irish Book Awards.Arlene has also contributed to many anthologies, including, Down These Green Streets, and Requiems for the Departed. Booking information: Members of the Centre can avail of a discounted rate by calling 01-8721302
June 25, 2013
Chilling, mesmerising. Gets under your skin and stays with you...
RELEASE DATE AUGUST 1ST
PEOPLE SAY THAT THE TRUTHCAN SET YOU FREE. BUT WHAT IF THE TRUTH ISNOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO HEAR?
Thirty-five years ago Adrian Hamilton drowned. At the time his death wasreported as a tragic accident but the exact circumstances remained a mystery.
Now his daughter Clodagh, trying to come to terms with her past, visitsa hypnotherapist who unleashes disturbing childhood memories of her father'sdeath. And as Clodagh delves deeper into her subconscious, memories ofanother tragedy come to light - the death of her baby sister.
Meanwhile criminal psychologist Dr Kate Pearson is called in to help in theinvestigation of a murder after a body is found in a Dublin canal. When Katedigs beneath the surface of the killing, she discovers a sinister connection to the Hamilton family.
What terrible events took place in the Hamilton house all those years ago?And what connect them to the recent murder?
Time is running out for Clodagh and Kate.
And the killer has already chosen his next victim...
June 24, 2013
Latest Ramblings!
Thanks to Gerry from YOU magazine of The Daily Mail for making last week's photo session so relaxing - even with my braces! And no, I don't look like Joan Collins, not yet!!
Full cover (front & back) of The Doll's House will be revealed later on, so watch this space.
Good old 'Red Ribbons' will also feature shortly in the Mothers and Babies Magazine of The Independent, with me chatting to the lovely Linda Daly about protecting our big kids.
For any of you interested, I've also started on Novel 3 - working title 'Last Kiss' and yes, it will be another psychological crime thriller!!! And yes, I've completed the dreaded synopsis!!!
