PREGNANCY LOSS & STORIES

Pregnancy loss has plagued my life for 16 years. I have written about it a little in my novel The Closet of Savage Mementos and a lot in poetry collections, most especially in my last one The Juno Charm. And I have a story called 'Storks' forthcoming in The Irish Times that is about the aftermath of miscarriage.

But today I have a short-short story (flash) in a brand new UK-based magazine for women writers called Halo. Halo is a gorgeous and welcome outlet for women and the art work for this issue is fabulous. There will be a limited number of print issues soon - keep any eye on the Halo Twitter account for more on that.

My tiny miscarriage story, 'Tilt', is on page 36. Go here.

UK PUBLICATION DAY - MISS EMILY

Miss Emily comes out today from dynamic Scottish publisher Sandstone Press. I have personal links with Scotland, as evidenced in The Closet of Savage Mementos, so I'm delighted to be with Highlands-based Sandstone.

I have an essay in The Irish Times today about the writing of the novel and I'll be talking to Seán Moncrieff at 2.30pm on Newstalk. Happy day :)

ULLAPOOL BOOK FESTIVAL - thoughts and pics

I got back from the Ullapool Book Festival last night after a long day of travel and an exhilarating few days in Scotland. The fictional Highland village of Kinlochbrack, in my novel The Closet of Savage Mementos, is a thinly disguised Ullapool. I worked there in a beautiful small hotel called The Ceilidh Place 23 years ago.

We drove from Aberdeen to Ullapool - this is along the final stretch

The road to Ullapool

A house on Loch Broom

Entering the village of Ullapool

The Ceilidh Place

The village hall!

I went back to Ullapool four years ago to do final research for the novel, and I was back there this time to read at their book festival. In a lovely twist, I got to stay at The Ceilidh Place, which felt very grown up and posh altogether.

The festival was busy and comprehensive: events started at 8am and went on until late - there were writers from South Africa, Canada, England, Malaysia, Scotland and myself from Ireland. There was a ceilidh, as well as readings: poetry, fiction, non-fiction. We ate like royalty, three meals a day laid on (the food in The Ceilidh Place has always been good and has always catered for non meat-eaters like me). We had glorious salads (charred cauliflower was my highlight), celeriac and apple soup, homemade oatcakes, artichoke risotto, spinach and ricotta lasagne, raspberry fool (which pleased me hugely as the chef in my book makes a gooseberry fool, to which Struan says: 'Old fool makes new fool.') At the village hall, where most events took place, there was a tent where you could buy Fairtrade drinks and home-baking - I had a chocolate ginger fridge cake that was out of this world.

Looking over the loch and out to sea

Loch Broom gate

Out for a walk

North of Ullapool

Northern scenery - the weather was fantastic

I went to as many events as I could manage but, after late nights in the bar and upstairs lounge with the other writers, journalists and arts admin folk, it wasn't possible to go to every event. Once we took our hire car and drove about 20 miles north to see Stac Pollaidh and all the other beautiful mountains and inlets (we saw deer!).

Stac Pollaidh

Other times we woggled around the shops and ate (yet more) cake in The Frigate, a shoreside café where I also worked (it was run by The Ceilidh Place way back). There are great shops in Ullapool selling top-notch local crafts, vintage wares and art. There are two book shops in the village, which is pretty amazing, and both support the book festival. I bought my obligatory paperweight (obsessed); I also managed a beachcomb.

Beachcombed finds

All this while attending plenty of readings. The election was on the day we arrived so there was a lot of lively discussion late into the night about all that had happened with that. Many people bewildered by the overall result.

Bilingual signs abound which is great to see. 'Little houses' for toilets - sweet!!

These fab sculptures feature in my novel - I was delighted to find them still in situ in a window on Shore St

Typewriter in The Frigate

Apart from the readings from the books, there was something extra to enjoy at every event: Christopher Brookmyre read hilarious emails received from fans, correcting him on the geography of Berlin, or wanting to meet him in remote places. Zoë Wicomb was fascinating on the politics of South Africa, as was Chiew-Siah Tei on Malaysia. The lovely Kerry Hudson writes her books in a shack in Vietnam (I felt like such a square plodder when I heard that). Ditto while listening to Linda Cracknell recount her solo walks through Scotland and her climbing in Switzerland. Her writing is stitched with wisdom as much as adventure - beautiful.

Myself and Zoe Strachan, waiting for our event to begin

It was terrifying to follow these people's events but my interviewer, writer Zoë Strachan, made it all really easy and we had a full house, including several former Ceilidh Place colleagues, which was a joy.

Writer Ian Stephen from the Isle of Lewis

Writer Murray Armstrong from Airdrie (now living in London)

Malaysian writer Chiew-Siah Tei (now living in Glasgow)

Ullapool harbour - evening

Ullapool is a magical place - it pulls on you and seduces you and never quite lets go. The sealoch and mountain scenery, the sweet white houses, the warm people, the fabulous food - all of it combines to make a wonderful experience. I was honoured to be invited back for the book festival and was like a sulky child when we had to leave yesterday morning; I just did not want to go. Huge thanks to Joan Michaels and her book festival team, to President Louise Welsh, and to our hosts at The Ceilidh Place - you all do a terrific job. Tapadh leibh!

Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award 2015

I am naturally delighted that The Closet of Savage Mementos has been shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award 2015. All thanks to my editor Eoin Purcell for publishing the book (Eoin is now working in London with Amazon) and to all the New Island team. I'm in lovely company; special congrats to fellow Islander, David Butler.

The shortlist:

City of Dis by David Butler

Blue is the Night by Eoin McNamee

The Closet of Savage Mementos by Nuala Ní Chonchúir

The Visitors by Patrick O’Keeffe

The Diary of Mary Travers by Eibhear Walshe

The adjudicators Eileen Battersby and Gerald Dawe will select the winner, who will be presented with a cheque for €15,000 at the Opening Night of Listowel Writers’ Week on Wednesday 27th May 2015.

More here.

THE SAVAGE BUSINESS OF TITLES

Among a series of pieces about titling work, I have a piece called 'The Savage Business of Titles' at Blue Fifth Review today. It's specifically about how the title for The Closet of Savage Mementos was arrived at. You have to scroll down to find it here.

BOOK RIOT FEATURES CLOSET

Brooklyn based book-lovers site Book Riot has featured The Closet of Savage Mementos in their St Patrick's Day blogpost. Along with books by Kevin Barry, Mary Costello and Daniel Seery. Honoured. The post is here.

Here are the Book Rioters beliefs, as set out on their site - you may argue with them, but they're good :)

1. We create.
2. We always prefer the book to the movie.
3. We riot as a team.
4. We geek out on books, embarrassingly so.
5. We’re leaders.
6. We practice charity.
7. We miss our subway stop cause the book is that good.
8. We are non-traditional.
9. We believe in family (bookshelves and cats count).

PODCAST OF I.T. BOOK CLUB CHAT ABOUT *THE CLOSET OF SAVAGE MEMENTOS*

I joined presenter Gary Quinn and two IT Book Club members, Phillip Watt and Emer Sugrue, to discuss The Closet of Savage Mementos in December. The podcast is online now.

On the podcast, I keep doing this up inflection thing with word ends. Most annoying to listen to but it may have been the nerves :)

Chapter One of Closet in the IT

The Irish Times features Chapter One of The Closet of Savage Mementos today as part of its book club activities. Here.

IRISH TIMES BOOK CLUB - QUESTIONS

Happy new year, my blogland friends! I hope 2015 brings you creativity and prosperity.

2014 was a good one for me with Miss Emily being accepted for publication, and the film and audio deals being struck. July and August this year are the pub months (N. America and the UK, respectively) and I look forward to all the work and PR that will go with getting it into readers' hands. It's exciting and a little daunting.

In the meantime, Sarah Gilmartin at the Irish Times has compiled a list of book club questions for The Closet of Savage Mementos, which is the IT's book club book this month. Sarah writes: 'Ní Chonchúir doesn’t flinch when tackling the dark truths of human behaviour, the savage mementos at the heart of family relationships and growing up. Earlier work has drawn comparisons to Edna O’Brien. With her ability to get inside a story, and a writing style that is both lyrical and exact, it is easy to see why.'

Sarah poses five questions. This one I love: '“Quality women’s fiction” is a term that gets bandied around a lot. What does it mean to you as a reader? Is it insulting (where is the ‘quality men’s fiction’ shelf in the bookshop?) or is it a necessary distinguish from commercial women’s fiction? What other authors does Nuala’s writing remind you of?'

I'd like to hear the discussions around that...The article and the other questions are here.

THE IRISH TIMES WANT COMMENTS!!

The Irish Times Book Club want to open out the discussion about The Closet of Savage Mementos. You can see yesterday's article here and leave a comment underneath it.  If you ARE reading it, or have read it, please go to the IT site and leave a comment. It doesn't have to be positive - let rip!!

PODCASTING WITH THE IRISH TIMES

I'm off to the Irish Times office in Dublin today to record a podcast for the book club about The Closet of Savage Mementos. The idea is that two new-to-the-book readers join me, and Features Digital Editor Gary Quinn, and we discuss the novel, book club style. It will be broadcast on the 13th of January, all going well. I have listened to John Boyne's fluent podcast on Soundcloud about his IT book club novel, A History of Loneliness.  I am hoping I can sound as relaxed and together as he does - wish me luck!

IRISH TIMES BOOKCLUB INTERVIEW

I'm interviewed by the Irish Times today, for their book club, about writing and stuff. This book, the next one, the one after that...It's here.

*CLOSET* IS IRISH TIMES BOOK CLUB CHOICE FOR DECEMBER

I'm thrilled that The Closet of Savage Mementos is the Irish Times Book Club choice for this month. Martin Doyle calls it 'a moving, beautifully written portrait of love, grief and motherhood'. Swoon. There will be interviews, articles, reviews, videos, podcasts and webchats over the next month about the novel. More here.

*CLOSET* CONTINUES ON RTÉ RADIO 1

My latest novel The Closet of Savage Mementos, published by New Island Books, is the Book on One on RTÉ Radio 1 all this week. More tonight and tomorrow night, 11.10pm. It is also available to listen back to.

Actress Caitríona Ní Mhurchú is enchanting as Lillis Yourell, the narrator. I am enjoying every second - it is like listening to a story by somebody else entirely. Caitríona has the most beautiful, sincere voice. Perfect for Lillis. Very happy!

BOOK ON ONE - THE CLOSET OF SAVAGE MEMENTOS

My latest novel The Closet of Savage Mementos, published by New Island Books, will be the Book on One on RTÉ Radio 1 all next week. Monday to Friday, 11.10pm. It will be available to listen back to also. Actress Caitríona Ní Mhurchú will read it and I can't wait to hear her as Lillis Yourell, the narrator.

NEW REVIEW FOR *CLOSET*

Writer Lane Ashfeldt reviews The Closet of Savage Mementos at writing.ie here.

A taster: '...chick lit is not what you get from Nuala Ní Chonchuir. There’s a sharp analytical edge here that cuts into the muscle of the action, dissects each tangled sinew that connects the characters. She is exacting in her descriptions of physicality and of relations between the sexes, and this clarity of observation runs right through her writing, its pages damp and sticky with the exertions of her characters, and the griefs they give each other…'

TALLAGHT, NEW YORK & BEYOND

I'm reading from my latest novel The Closet of Savage Mementos this Saturday at 2.30pm, at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght, as part of the Red Line Book Festival. I'm reading with Dónal Ryan, Dermot Bolger and John Sheahan. Blessed amongst men.

The festival is on all this week and my friend Shauna Gilligan is giving a free writing workshop on Saturday in Lucan Library, 10am to 1pm, Bookings: 01 621 6422.

After Red Line I am off to New York to meet my agent and my new editor at Penguin USA for lunch, then a meet-n-greet at the Penguin office. And after that I head to New Mexico where I am giving a talk on historical fiction, and my first reading from Miss Emily, at the Uni. of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Excited doesn't even come close!!

EASONS, GALWAY READING - MON. 29th

On Monday 29th September, at 4.30pm, I will be reading at Easons, Shop St, Galway, as part of their 25 year celebrations. I will read from The Closet of Savage Mementos and there will be poetry from Alice Lyons, Peggie Gallagher and Geraldine Mitchell.

EASONS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH GALWAY WRITERS

Here's the full text of Kernan Andrews's article about the 25 year celebrations at Easons, Galway, from The Galway Advertiser:

ELEVEN GALWAY short story writers and poets will be reading from their work in Easons on Mondays and Tuesdays in September.

The readings, which begin at 4.30pm, have been programmed by Galway publishing company Arlen House, and are part of a series of events to mark the 25th anniversary of Easons’ opening in Shop Street in September 1989.

The first reading takes place on Monday September 22 at 4.30pm and will feature Geraldine Curtin giving a short talk entitled Life Stories of Women Prisoners in Galway Jail; Orfhlaith Foyle will read poems of war and conflict as well as reading poems by Ballinasloe writer Nuala Ní Chonchúir which were inspired by the book The Women of Galway Jail; and the Galway Advertiser arts editor Kernan Andrews will read from his short story, Im Niemansland, set in the trenches of WWI.

Tuesday 23 will feature two of Galway’s most respected short story writers, as Geraldine Mills will read from her new collection, Hellkite, and Mike McCormack will reading from Forensic Songs.

On Monday 29, there will be poetry from Alice Lyons, Peggie Gallagher, and Geraldine Mitchell, while Nuala Ní Chonchúir will read from The Closet of Savage Mementos. Tuesday 30 will see Alan McMonagle and Des Kenny read from the Arlen House short story anthology Noir by Noir West.

All are welcome to the readings. Easons will be hosting a number of other in-shop events, including literature and music and events for children.

FAB REVIEW/ESSAY ABOUT *CLOSET* IN THE DUB REVIEW OF BOOKS

Susan McCallum-Smith gives an extremely thoughtful once over to The Closet of Savage Mementos, and some of my other books, in The Dublin Review of Books. Her theme is motherhood in all its guises, a subject (obsessively) close to my heart. As a Scottish writer and mother, living in Ireland, who has personal experience of adoption, Susan is peculiarly well placed to review the book. She does a great (and humbling) job. Full review/essay here.