Monday 28 March 2011

GRACE WELLS WINS STRONG AWARD


Grace Wells, whom I interviewed here, won the Strong Award for best first poetry collection in Dublin yesterday. I also reviewed her book When God Has Been Called Away to Greater Things here. Huge congrats to Grace and to her fellow shortlistees Órfhlaith Foyle, Paul Maddern and Caitríona Ní Chleirchín.

I spent the weekend immersed in poetry rather than fiction - I facilitated a workshop for Baffle in Loughrea on Saturday, which I really enjoyed. Eleven committed participants, lots of chat and great poetry. What better way to spend a few hours? And yesterday, after a major spring clean, I was drawn to reading poetry not fiction to unwind.

Back to the novel now. I feel I've been divorced from it because I managed so little while I was laid up. Well, little but thoughts and jottings, which are important. But I'm back on my feet and raring to go!

9 comments:

Unknown said...

As one of 'the eleven committed' who attended the workshop on Saturday, I spent the rest of the weekend thnking, talking about and writing poetry, and then a last minute before bed review of the excellent notes you gave us, with a re-read of the wonderful poems we worked on in the group.Thanks Nuala!

Unknown said...

So pleased for Grace, it's a lovely collection, she should be very proud of it:)

Group 8 said...

Lucy - that's so lovely to hear. I thought the group were great, very animated and interested. A pleassure :)

Group 8 said...

Barbara - it's a stunning poetry collection and she deserved the win. N x

Padhraig Nolan said...

Absolutely! Hard to believe it's a first collection. We missed you at Poetry Now, Nuala.

Group 8 said...

Ah thanks PJ. I was teaching on Saturday and hate doing the up and down to Dublin in one day mullarkey, so I had to give it a miss this year.

Rachel Fenton said...

It's a very apt award name for her poetry - huge congratulations to Grace.

Have you been ill? Crikey, I was only away from the blog a couple of days - glad you're on the mend now x

Group 8 said...

Hi Rae, yes, the award is aptly named in Grace's case.
Yup, 2 week sinus infection. Nightmare.

Kar said...

sounds like a great day / weekend Nu.

Glad you're on the mend again.

Great win for Grace too!

And I hope today was full of inspiration and you got lots and lots of writing done...

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