Talented North Antrim folk. Philip Taylor in Ballymena Guardian newspaper writes about the new Jan Carson short story collection. Checking it against what I look for in books:
Superb writing ☑️
Funny ☑️
Tales of life's disappointments ☑️
Ahoghill ☑️
Sky Blues ☑️
ballymenaguardian.co.uk/news/2024/04/1…

#FILF24 Now a tradition, the 24th Franco-Irish Literary Festival kicks off on Friday 22 March at 7pm at Alliance Française Dublin with 'Incipit' an exclusive #performance featuring all guest writers #reading the first page of their latest book!
#Free / Booking required: bit.ly/3PgfXkX

Great to see two of my favourites, Ian Cochrane and Maurice Leitch, getting a mention in the Irish Times this weekend, in an excellent overview of NI writing by Martin Doyle

irishtimes.com/culture/books/…

‘Inexplicably, the most under-valued Irish novelist of the past 50 years’. Maurice Leitch, who died this year, left us vivid portraits of Antrim mill villages in decline, tense Border communities and Troubles-torn Belfast, writes Philip Taylor

irishtimes.com/culture/books/…

Maurice Leitch obituary dlvr.it/SxPcCl

Very sorry to hear of Maurice Leitch's death. I was immensely proud to publish a new edition of 'Silver's City' and his final novel, 'Gone to Earth'. Meeting him in his favourite pub led to publishing his friend, Ian Cochrane, as well.

He leaves behind quite the legacy of work.

Nice to see a shiny new copy of Ian Cochrane's A Streak of Madness from ⁦turnpikebooks⁩ on the new arrivals shelf at Dundrum Library

Also in the forthcoming bumper TLS is a review of Ian Cochrane's 'The Last Word' and 'A Streak of Madness'.

Available if anyone needs Xmas for the person from the Ballymena area (or even further afield) in their lives.

#Win tickets for the Alliance Française Dublin #screening at Irish Film Institute #French #Film #Festival , 'Brother and Sister' starring Marion Cotillard, on Tuesday 22 November 8.30pm! To enter the #competition , simply #Like & #Retweet ! Special €10 rate for AF Members – More info: bit.ly/3AjkYlt

'The great delight of the thing is the way in which the living speech of the Ulster countryside is married to a highly inventive comic imagination' - Seamus Heaney on Ian Cochrane's debut novel, A Streak of Madness (1973), recently reissued by turnpikebooks

Good fun speaking with Philip Taylor at WaterstonesBallymena last night, discussing the life & work of Cullybackey writer Ian Cochrane. Thanks to the lovely crowd of folk who attended, to WaterstonesBallymena for hosting and turnpikebooks for the fine new publications. m.facebook.com/story.php?stor…

Just a last reminder that Philip Taylor and James Greer will be discussing Ian Cochrane, his novels and short stories WaterstonesBallymena tonight from 7pm.

All welcome.

Here's a photo of Ian with Maurice Leitch in the 1990s on a trip to France to buy cheap beer.

(1/2) Ian was born in 1941 and grew up in a remote cottage in Moylarg, before the Cochrane family moved to the newly built Ard-na-Maine estate in Cullybackey in the mid-1950s.

loveballymena.online/post/waterston…

eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-c…

WaterstonesBallymena will be hosting a celebration of Ian Cochrane and the new edition of his short stories, The Last Word, on October 20th from 7pm with Philip Taylor and James Greer

Patrick McCabe calls Ian Cochrane as 'a one-off genius'. Philip and Jim will explain why.

Very happy to get this wonderful collection of Ian Cochrane short stories today. A fine looking turnpikebooks publication, with a moving and funny Foreword by Ian's great friend Maurice Leitch and a hugely insightful Afterword by the book's editor Philip Taylor. #CullybackeyGothic

A highly enjoyable and productive week at the River Mill near Downpatrick, with great food, inspiring company, and the occasional walk along peaceful country roads. A perfect way to end the summer. The River Mill

Copies of Ian Cochrane's The Last Word, the first collection of his short stories, will be appearing in bookshops over the next few weeks.

Alongside the stories, there's an insightful interview between Ian and Paul Magrath = mas.to/ above his influences and his ambitions.

Delighted to see that turnpikebooks will shortly be publishing posthumous collection of writings by Ian Cochrane (edited Philip Taylor) The Last Word - including my interview of Ian for Jennings Magazine.

Lovely to see that Gerard Dillon quote.

This painting will be on the cover of Ian Cochrane's 'A Streak of Madness', a novel based like Dillon's art on 'a child's innocence and sincerity.'