Conversations and Orchards

I’ve been a busy bee this summer, weeding and writing – bet ya can’t say that quickly without dropping the ‘r’ in writing.

Determined to push my ‘work in progress’ to the next stage, I got the head down and wrote like a demon, only surfacing to weed, harvest giant potatoes, admire giant sunflowers and photograph giant bees. I feel like I’ve been away for the last six weeks and only surfacing now, and just in time, because September brings a couple of exciting events.

My good friend and writing colleague, Karen Mooney came to me a while back and asked if I’d help her curate readings for an event she was organizing for the National Trust at Mount Stewart the first weekend in September. She’d also asked another writing buddy, Gaynor Kane and I knew that if I was doing anything with these women, it would not feel like work and would most definitely be fierce craic. I was not wrong. We were dubbed with the eyebrow-raising acronym ‘KGB’ and rolled with it.

The event, ‘The Art of Conversation’ will reflect conversations and the issues that provoke and stimulate conversation in today’s society. Readings by twenty acclaimed local writers take place from 1- 2 pm each day on 7th & 8th September 2019. For more information on who is reading, have a look at the national trust the website here.

Flash Fiction in the Orchard

The award-winning Armagh Food and Cider Festival takes place again this year, and Flash Fiction Armagh is proud to be included in the program. This year we are in a teepee in the grounds of Crannagael House for out Flash Fiction in the Orchard. It promises to be a lot of fun, with cider tasting, locally sourced food, music, and a great line up of readers, both old hands at the old Flash Fiction and some shiny new faces whom we are delighted to welcome. For more information and tickets (£10) click here.

Flash Fiction Armagh is delighted to announce our line-up, in no particular order:-

Gaynor Kane At Castleward

Maria Mc Gilly Green and Bitter

Csilla Toldy Wallflower

Jay Faulkner Playing Both Sides

Rachel Toner On The Shelf

Kerry Buchannan The Ages of Nan

Tim Hanna The Birds

Rosemary Tumilty The Homecoming

Ellie Rose Mc Kee The Caller

Brid McGinley Dogs in Space

Gerry Mc Cullough Not Quite Dead

Lorna Flanagan Boots Trudged Across the Yard

Yvonne Boyle The Silver Casino Player

There were so many submissions this time around that Réamonn and I decided neither of us would read so we could showcase as many new writers as possible. We couldn’t ask everyone who submitted to read, and it’s an upsetting part of the process for us. If you didn’t get chosen this time around, please keep trying for future events.

The Flash Fiction Armagh community has grown far beyond what we had ever hoped for. It’s down to everyone who submits, takes part, and attends events. I feel like I carried a little pot of fairy dust from Flash Fiction Forum San Jose and sprinkled it over Flash Fiction Armagh and we’ve watched the magic happen. Thank you, everyone.

Byddi Lee

2 replies to Conversations and Orchards

  1. Byddi, both you and Reamonn’s charm and personalities and not forgetting that pot of fairy dust has really made Armagh Flash Fiction!! Well done to both of you!

  2. Thank you, Maria, Looking forward to hearing you read xo

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