I am interviewed in The Gloss today. Possibly the best photo of me ever… 😉
Hallowe’en at the Hellfire Club – A Hollow in the Hills
As A Hollow in the Hills is set at Hallowe’en, and here we are at Hallowe’en, I thought I’d share an excerpt –
“Mist curled around the grass, freezing it where it touched. Dylan pressed against the shadows of the hunting lodge, trying to hide himself and Clodagh. That was how he found the bonfire, a stack of old pallets and bits of furniture, odds and ends gathered together to make an as yet unlit Halloween bonfire.
But it should have been lit by now, shouldn’t it? Like the thousands blazing in the city below them. Bonfires were as ancient as the land, an old tradition of harvest and spring. A celebration. A sacrifice.
With a screech like a demon a firework went up, bursting in a shower of scarlet and yellow. Others followed, the city of Dublin throwing fire into the sky. A terrible feeling of dread swept over him and he knew he shouldn’t be here, that he shouldn’t be on this hillside, that they should never have split up. Holly was here. It was a trap.”
The photo was taken at the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill in Dublin, where Dylan and Clodagh are about to find themselves in a lot of trouble. It’s dark and creepy and has the most terrifying stories associated with it. A Hollow in the Hills is the sequel to the award winning A Crack in Everything and is available now from all good bookshops, real and virtual (maybe even imaginary).
Die Chroniken der Fae: Auf Papier und Asche is out today!
*Ridiculously excited warning*
So, a long long time ago, when I was still in school I was in a German class supposedly learning German. And I had my German book out on the table in front of me and was for all appearances studying very hard.
Unfortunately, I was not actually doing that. I was writing a novel on a book perched on my knees under the desk.
Of course, I was caught, my lovely novel was confiscated and I had the mortifying experience of having to go to the staff room at the next break and ask for it back. It was the only copy. This is long before the days of computers and multiple backups. My German teacher told me it was very good. Which meant she’d read it.
I wished for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. It didn’t. I never learned more than a few words of German. Enough, I hope, to be polite. And ask about sightseeing.
BUT
more fool me because today my novel A Crack in Everything comes out in German from CBT and I cannot read it!!! But it is called Die Chroniken der Fae: auf Papier und Asche (Chronicles of the Fae: from paper and ashes). I have been really lucky to work with the lovely Karen Gerwig as translator. And the cover is BEAUTIFUL! Once more the cover fairies have come through for me with flying colours and the artwork by the wonderful Isabelle Hirtz is stunning.
So, if you are lucky enough to be able to read German, or simply want to own a book with a magnificent cover featuring Izzy Gregory, here is Die Chroniken der Fae: auf Papier und Asche.
*pets*
~oOo~
Also a reminder that I will be in Hodges Figgis on Dawson Street on Thursday evening from 6pm for a YA panel with Claire Hennesy, Dave Rudden and Louise O’Neill. Come and join us!
Writing Fantastical Worlds
On Writing.ie today, there’s an article from myself and E. R. Murray where we talk about writing Urban Fantasy set in Dublin and discuss writing techniques and ideas – Writing Fantastical Worlds
Just to remind everyone that Octocon is on this weekend. If you’re coming along be sure to say hello. If you aren’t, why not? The fabulous guests of honour are Emma Newman and Maura McHugh.
It also means I might be a bit scarce. Then again, hotel wifi permitting, I might not.
Before that I have to get my act together as I’m visiting a school on Friday morning, a Library next week and then I have the Hodges Figgis YA panel. It’s all go here!
Hodges Figgis YA Panel 15th October 6pm
I’m very excited to be part of the YA Panel in Hodges Figgis next week on Thursday 15th October at 6pm, along with Claire Hennessy, Louise O’Neill and Dave Rudden.
Situated on Dawson Street, Hodges Figgis bookshop is a part of Dublin history, founded in 1768, mentioned in Ulysses and one of the oldest in Ireland.
So this is in addition to Octocon this weekend, a school and a library visit.
I can sleep next weekend, right?
#YAieDay and Octocon
So, #YAieDay is on Twitter tomorrow, a day when we celebrate all things YA in Ireland, and I’m going to be on from 1.10-1.50 swearing… sorry “talking” about swearing with Kim Hood and Sally Nicholls. Follow the #YAieDay hashtag on Twitter and the full (amazing) lineup and programme is here. Thanks to the marvellous Michelle Moloney King for putting this together.
And then, next week it’s Octocon. And the programme is now up online too. Another brilliant line up of people and lots of YA here.
So this is what I’ll be up to.
Busy busy busy…
- Friday, October 9
7pm
Ireland as a location
A. Tivoli/Yeats, 7pm – 8pm - Saturday, October 10
1pm
As the creator Intended?
C. Gaiety, 1pm – 2pm - 3pm
Historical Inaccuracies.
B. Abbey, 3pm – 4pm - 7pm
Late Night Panel: Sex In Fiction/Erotica
B. Abbey, 7pm – 8pm - Sunday, October 11
2pm
A Fantasy of My Own
A. Tivoli/Yeats, 2pm – 3pm - 3pm
Irish Mythology And Its International Spread
A. Tivoli/Yeats, 3pm – 4pm - 4pm
Readings from our Authors featuring Planetfall by Emma Newman
B. Abbey, 4pm – 5pm - 5pm
Practical Magic: Perspectives of Pagans, Gamers, and Fantasy Authors
B. Abbey, 5pm – 6pm
The whole programme can be found here. Come along and say hello! I will probably be the person rushing between panels but say hello anyway! 😀
Sleeps With Monsters
Today on Ruth bombards the Internet with stuff I’m on Tor.com (otherwise known as OMGTORDOTCOM in our house now) answering questions from the lovely Liz Bourke on Sleeps with Monsters.
Should I say that again?
OMGTORDOTCOM
Interview on The books, the art and me
Lovely interview with me on Jenny Duffy’s website The Books, The Art and Me. I had great fun doing this one. So if you’re interested in how I write, whether I plan, and the ideas behind A Crack in Everything and A Hollow in the Hills hop over to her site and have a read.
Magical Places of Dubh Linn: The Dubh Linn Gardens & Chester Beatty Library

In the grounds of Dublin Castle, the Dubh Linn gardens sit on the site of the original black pool. They are decorated with intertwined brick pathways representing eels. The central lawn double jobs as a helicopter landing pad, while small gardens, such as the Garda Memorial Garden, occupy the corners. It is also the site of the Chester Beatty Library, one of my favorite places to visit in Dublin.
Magical Places of Dubh Linn: Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle sits in the heart of old Dublin, on the highest point of land in the area, a ridge between the Liffey and the Poddle (which now flows underground). A sheltered harbour on the Poddle, Dubh Linn was the original Black Pool from which Dublin gets its name. It was probably the site of an ancient ringfort which guarded the harbour, and from the 930s a Viking settlement stood there. The Norman castle was founded in 1204 and the gates were once decorated with the decapitated heads of rebels and invaders. This gate is on Palace Street, the shortest in Dublin with only two addresses, one of which is the Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers Society, founded in 1790. Next door to it is the lovely Chez Max.
