Category Archives: Dubh Linn

Octocon 2019

Awesome authors, Dubh Linn, Fantasy Romance, Octocon, Out and About, Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi Romance, Space Opera, YAIE, Young Adult,

On Sunday the 13th of September we’ve having a mini-Octocon (just the one day – I think everyone is still exhausted after Worldcon). All the details are on the website and the programme is now up.

I’m absolutely delighted to be a guest, especially as the theme is fairies! And I’m also there as Jessica Thorne so looking forward to talking about Sci-Fi Romance as well. You can find out what I’m up to here and the details are below. It’s an amazing line up. I hope to see many of you there. Come and say hello.

11am The Fae in Popular Culture
Room 4&5
Tags: panel
Jack Fennell (m), Ruth Frances Long, Lora O’Brien, Peadar Ó Guilín, Karina Steffens

On one hand we have the dangerous creatures of Irish mythology and Terry Pratchett’s malicious Lords and Ladies; on the other, sexy elf-lords and twee little creatures with their homes in trees. How have our perceptions and cultural understanding of the Fae been altered, influenced or completely disregarded by modern fantasy novels, Hollywood, and TV shows like Carnival Row and Charmed?

2pm Author Readings
Room 12, 2pm – 2:25pm
Tags: reading
Ruth Frances Long, Peadar Ó Guilín

Guest authors Peadar Ó Guilín and Ruth Frances Long/Jessica Thorne read from their recent work.

3pm
Romance in SFF: Not Just a Sub Plot
Room 11
Tags: panel
Ellen Brickley, Jack Fennell, Ruth Frances Long, Atlin Merrick (m), C.E. Murphy

Many SFF stories involve romance – it’s part of human nature, after all. SFF romance as a subgenre is as varied and creative as the genre as a whole but has often been .dismissed and undervalued. But why should lovers (of romance) settle for it being considered second-best to dragons and rocket ships?

5pm From the Terror in the Night to a Bedtime Tale
Room 4&5
Tags: panel
Karina Coldrick, Diane Duane, Ruth Frances Long, Peadar Ó Guilín, MaryBrigid Turner

Once gruesome cautionary tales of warning, fairy tales somehow became cute children’s stories instead. Is it time for a return to the horror stories of old or do they need to evolve to remain alive? Are any of them no longer suitable for modern audiences, and is there room for both Disney sweetness and the grimmest of Grimm for children and adults alike?

 

A Bookish Tour of Ireland

Dubh Linn, links and stuff, YAIE, Young Adult,

http://stackedbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/crack-in-everything-book-cover.jpgI’ve been running around a bit the last month between Worldcon (which was amazing) in Dublin and then up to Titancon (also amazing). And now I will be in the editing cave for most of September.

But I was delighted to find out that A Crack in Everything is included in Stacked’s “A Bookish Tour of Ireland” today. It’s an amazing round up of YA books set in Ireland. Thanks so much for the inclusion.

Check it out.

I’ll be at Octocon on the 13th October in Blanchardstown. There will be badges and ribbons. Oh yes. More of them.

In the mean time, I’d better get back to work. Jessica Thorne is very demanding. 😉

Worldcon Schedule

Dubh Linn, Out and About, Worldcon, , ,

We’re almost there. Only a few weeks to go. And the schedules are coming out (still subject to a bit of change of course) but here’s mine so far…

Invasion and the Irish imagination

Format: Panel
15 Aug 2019, Thursday 11:00 – 11:50, Wicklow Hall 2B (CCD)

The history and culture of Ireland have been shaped by invasion, from the mythologisation of Lebor Gabála Érenn (‘The Book of Invasions’), set down in the 11th century, to the arrival of the Normans and English in subsequent centuries. How has Irish fantastic literature engaged with this history? How is it similar to, or different from, other post-colonial fantastic literatures? And how do contemporary Irish SF writers tackle invasion and its aftermath in their work?

Jo Zebedee, Ian McDonald, Dr Jack Fennell, Ruth Frances Long (M) , Peadar Ó Guilín

Introduction to Irish SFF

Format: Panel
15 Aug 2019, Thursday 14:00 – 14:50, Wicklow Hall-1 (CCD)

This panel is the ideal starting place for anyone unfamiliar with Irish SFF. There will be a brief overview of the genre as a whole and how it relates to Irish culture and history, as well as reading recommendations. Later in the convention there will be panels covering the topic in more detail from a variety of viewpoints.

Nick Larter (M), Dr Máire Brophy (ADAPT Centre) , Dr Jack Fennell , Ruth Frances Long

Kaffeeklatsch: Ruth Frances Long

Format: Kaffeeklatsch
15 Aug 2019, Thursday 16:00 – 16:50, Level 3 Foyer (KK/LB) (CCD)

Ruth Frances Long

Stroll with the stars: Saturday

Format: Stroll
17 Aug 2019, Saturday 09:00 – 09:50, Ground Floor Foyer (CCD)

Ruth Frances Long, Vanessa Rose Phin (Strange Horizons) , Sazib Bhuiyan (Can With Candle) Sheila Williams (Asimov’s), Kate Baker (SFWA, Inc. & Clarkesworld Magazine), Kieron Gillen

Fairies and Irish folklore in YA

Format: Panel
17 Aug 2019, Saturday 12:00 – 12:50, Liffey Room-2 (CCD)

Banshees. Leprechauns. Fairy rings. We all know the Irish myths… don’t we? But do they still have power for modern readers? What do we need to understand about the fae folk? And what importance do these traditions have in modern YA stories? Our panellists will explore the influence of Irish myth, folklore, and legend in YA over the years.

Ruth Frances Long (M) , Susan Connolly , Sarah Rees Brennan, Peadar Ó Guilín

(Seriously, for moderating this one, I am thinking of bringing a whip… you’ve been warned.)

Autographs: Saturday at 14:00

Format: Autographing
17 Aug 2019, Saturday 14:00 – 14:50, Level 4 Foyer (CCD)

Ruth Frances Long, Anna Stephens (HarperVoyager UK), Emma Newman, Fred Gambino , Sarah Gailey , Alec Nevala-Lee

Is the musical a work of fantasy?

Format: Panel
17 Aug 2019, Saturday 16:00 – 16:50, Wicklow Room-1 (CCD)

Everyone knows the rules of a musical: all street urchins perform impeccable choreography, every lonely goatherd can carry a tune, and all sisters wear matching outfits differing only by colour. The setting of a musical is as fantastical as a fairy court or witch’s cottage. But does this escape from reality count as a fantasy setting?

Ruth Frances Long, Gabriella Gomez (Science fiction bokhandeln) , Neil Williamson (M) , Marguerite Smith (Dublin 2019) , Lee Harris (Tor.com Publishing)

Group Reading: Fiction for Kids and Young Adults

Format: Group reading
18 Aug 2019, Sunday 16:30 – 17:20, Alhambra (Point Square Dublin)

Dublin 2019 presents a special group reading for lovers of children’s and young adult fiction. Our authors provide a range of stories and topics that are sure to delight and entertain!

Christine Taylor-Butler (M), Delia Sherman, Ruth Frances Long

Irish myths and legends for children

Format: Panel
19 Aug 2019, Monday 14:30 – 15:20, Odeon 5 (Point Square Dublin)

Ireland is rich with stories and legends that have been told and retold to children over the years. What is it about these stories that give them such staying power? What role do these tales fulfill in their original forms? And how do we keep them feeling fresh and new for the coming generations?

Ruth Frances Long (M) , Nigel Quinlan , Deirdre Thornton (Dublin City Libraries), Dr Claire Collins (University College Dublin), Mr Michael Scott

I’m also planning to be at

Octocon presents: The Golden Blasters

Format: Awards

18 Aug 2019, Sunday 14:30 – 16:20, Odeon 1 (Point Square Dublin)

Octocon is proud to co-host this year’s Golden Blasters with Dublin 2019. Now in their tenth year, the Blasters are dedicated specifically to the art of the short film and screenplay in the genres of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. Please join us as we show you the finalists for this year’s awards – the winners of which will be decided not only by our panel of judges but also by you, with the coveted Silver Blaster audience award. So be sure to come along and help decide which film will take home this year’s Blaster.

So if you’re at Worldcon, make sure to say hello.

Angels everywhere

Dubh Linn, links and stuff, YAIE, Young Adult, , ,

I got a wonderful email today to let me know that A Crack in Everything is on a list of 10 Glorious Young Adult Fantasy Books About Angels. There’s a super list of books featuring angels and apparently an AI generated video describing them. (!)

So if you’re interested in angel books have a look.

Of course A Crack in Everything, and its sequels A Hollow in the Hills and A Darkness at the End are available in all good bookshops. They have slightly less jogging and winged sprites and more desperate escapes, blood and terror but hey. 😀

And now back I go to working on the new Jessica Thorne project. More soon. <3

Die Chroniken der Fae – In Liebe und Hoffnung

Cover Love, Dubh Linn, Interviews, YAIE, Young Adult,

So excited to share this – the cover of the German edition of A Darkness at the End, featuring a familiar and beautiful face.

Die Chroniken der Fae - In Liebe und Hoffnung von Ruth Frances Long
Die Chroniken der Fae – In Liebe und Hoffnung von Ruth Frances Long

I can’t get over how amazing these covers are and how beautifully they capture the characters.

In case you missed it as well I’ve been in the Irish Times, and A Darkness at the End got a mention in the Sunday Independent. And I’ll be hosting #writerswise on twitter on Thursday evening. All busy here.

Magpie Encounter at Octocon

Dubh Linn, Octocon, Out and About, Writing Life, YAIE, Young Adult, , , , ,

I had such a wonderful time at Octocon including the somewhat surreal experience of meeting one of my own characters! Fantastic Magpie cosplay, including threats of violence, weapons and menace.

A writer’s dream come true. Or possibly a nightmare…

magpiekate

Hoping for a relatively quiet Halloween weekend but next weekend I’m up in Ardagh for the Frightfest! Here’s hoping I don’t get followed!

Dubh Linn Series review

Dubh Linn, reviews, YAIE, Young Adult, , , , , ,

Want a recap of the Dubh Linn series? Wondering if it’s for you? Here’s a spoiler free review of A Crack in Everything, A Hollow in the Hills and A Darkness at the End from Aoife at Fred Weasley Died Laughing on YouTube.

Also just a reminder that I will be at TitanCon next weekend, 30th September – 2nd October, in the Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast.

A Darkness at the End Playlist

Dubh Linn, links and stuff, Music post, YAIE, Young Adult, , , ,

When I’m writing I usually end up collecting songs which connect to the book and A Darkness at the End is no different. Each song represents either a character, a place, an event or a general theme of the whole book. So here’s the playlist for it, and a link to the playlist on YouTube. Enjoy and let me know if there are any you think should be in there as well (and why).

A Darkness at the End Playlist

Book launch madness

Dubh Linn, New Books, New releases, Octocon, Out and About, Titancon, YAIE, , , , , ,

launchpic2
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped to celebrate the launch of A Darkness at the End the other night, both on the group and in a virtual space as well. It was a fantastic night and I couldn’t have asked for more.

Particular thanks to Sarah Rees Brennan who, despite threats, didn’t shame me at all 😉
ruthsarahlaunch
(Next time, Sarah, next time).

Bob has signed copies in the Gutter Bookshop, and so too do our friends as the National Leprechaun Museum. There will be more popping up in various bookshops as and when I get there (I’m on a mission).

Failing that I’ll be at Titancon at the end of the month, and at Octocon in October. Signing pen will be at the ready. All three books are available from all good bookshops, on and offline, now. Keep a lookout for the very rare, collector’s item that is the wings badge!

launchpic1