Aspiring Irish writers hoping to follow in the footsteps of Cecelia
BOOKWORMS: Avid readers from the Catherine McAuley National School, Baggot St, include Molly Lynam (8), Sean Carter (9) and Emma O'Connor (9) and storyteller Niall de Burca
Tuesday March 04 2008
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Dublin Book Festival, Sean O Cearnaigh, President of the Irish Book Publishing Association, said that the market was alive and well here.
“It's certainly in a state of change, but publishers here have around 15pc of the market of books that are on sale in shops at the moment.” And the success of the market is all down to the talent of Irish writers, he added.
“Irish writers are our secret weapons,” he explains. “We have everything from big writers, to chick-lit authors to sports writers . There is a lot of talent.
“We have a lot of up-andcoming writers coming through as well, writers who have their finger on the pulse. Ireland is changing a lot and it's just a matter of reflecting that, which many of the writers do.”
For aspiring writers, Sean said that the festival could provide the key to hitting onto the best-selling idea.
“It's going to be a great place to get ideas. You never know what's going to work out. For instance, before David McWilliams published his books, the idea of an economist writing about economics in Ireland would have been yawninducing, but obviously it's now hugely popular.
“And if people aren't published, the person next to them is probably a publisher and can help them out. We'll probably head home with about 400 pages of manuscripts in our bags every night – but that's part of the charm.”
Over three days from March 7 to 10, the event in Dublin’s City Hall, will feature a host of readings for all and talks by some of Ireland's top authors.
Leading writers who will be on hand to add their expertise to the free event include Patricia Scanlan, Joseph O'Connor and Dermot Bolger while topics up for debate over the three days include the future of publishing, the legacy of de Valera and crime in Ireland.
One special group of readers is being targeted by the festival's organisers in particular, said Sean.
“Harry Potter has got kids reading again and while none of us published it, it's something we all have to be happy about.
They are all going to be the readers of the future, so it's important to get them interested in reading and show them what being creative can do.”
