Legacy of Bisto shortlisted authorNot surprisingly, the late Siobhan Dowd's The London Eye Mystery was this week shortlisted for the 18th Bisto Book of the Year Awards, writes Caroline Walsh.
Dowd, who was coming into her prime as a writer when she died from cancer last August, aged just 47, was also passionate about the power of reading, and before her death she created the Siobhan Dowd Trust to support disadvantaged young readers in Ireland and the UK. All royalties from her published novels and any posthumously published work will go to the trust under the terms of her will. Its trustees are inviting applications from people or organisations who need funding to help disadvantaged young readers. Dowd, author also of A Swift Pure Cry and Bog Child, worked for Pen, assisting writers silenced by oppressive regimes. She was also instrumental in encouraging reading in institutions for young offenders and getting Romany children to record their history. Her novel Solace will be published next year. See www.siobhandowdtrust.org for details on how to donate or how to apply for support.
Lectures on the art of translation
Italian writer Dacia Maraini, English poet Michael Horovitz and Irish academic and writer Declan Kiberd will be among participants at a conference on literary translation in Dublin on Monday and Tuesday, which is open to the public. Organised by Roma Tre University as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, it's in the European Commission Representation office at 43 Molesworth Street in Dublin. Topics featuring in lectures and workshops include The 'Irish' Translation of Beckett's 'Godot' and Translating Sebastian Barry. Admission is free. Details from http://ec.europa. eu/ireland/events/ index_en.htm.
A poetry weekend in Kavanagh country
Monaghan-born poet, novelist and short-story writer Mary O'Donnell is director of the annual poetry weekend (April 25th to 27th) at the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan. The weekend course is for beginners and people who've written some poetry. Participants will work towards producing drafts of two new poems. They'll also read and discuss contemporary poetry, examining various methods and techniques. O'Donnell has published three poetry collections, among them Spiderwoman's Third Avenue Rhapsody and Unlegendary Heroes. Details from the Patrick Kavanagh Centre on 042-9378560, e-mail infoatpkc@eircom.net, www.patrickkavanaghcountry.com.
Inspired by a course with which she was involved at the National College of Ireland, Maeve Binchy's tips for budding writers, The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club, will be published by Orion in May. The format is 20 letters by Binchy (above), offering advice, tips and a witty take on the life of a writer - as well as contributions from writers, publishers and editors. Be it thriller, comedy or journalism, or offerings for radio or stage, the book will offer advice on how to get started, and what editors are looking for. "The most important thing to realise is that everyone is capable of telling a story. It doesn't matter where we were born or how we grew up," says Binchy.