Immediate release: 4 February 2011
EIGHT YOUNG WRITERS TO WIN WRITING CLASS WITH BOOKER PRIZE WINNER RODDY DOYLE
Dublin, 4 February – The Dublin Book Festival has announced a new writing competition for young writers aged between 12 and 14. Budding authors are being asked to write and submit a story between 500 and 1000 words in length for the chance to win a creative writing workshop with Booker Prize Winner Roddy Doyle.
The story must be submitted by 11 February and judges will pick eight winners will be chosen to attend the workshop on 26 February 2011.
Roddy Doyle is one of Ireland’s most celebrate writers. His novels include The Commitments, The Snapper, The Van (which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize), Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha (which won the 1993 Booker Prize; The Woman Who Walked Into Doors, A Star Called Henry, Oh, Play that Thing and Paula Spencer. His books for children are The Giggler Treatment, Rover Saves Christmas, The Meanwhile Adventures and Wilderness.
Over 60 of Ireland’s leading authors, poets and journalists will gather in Dublin between the 2nd and 6th of March for the fourth annual Dublin Book Festival.
The festival has been extended this year from three to five days, and while activities will once again center on Dublin’s historic City Hall, events will also be hosted in a number of other venues, including the National Library of Ireland and the Project Arts Centre in Temple Bar.
The Dublin Book Festival is organised by Publishing Ireland, the association of Irish book publishers, and is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Foras na Gaeilge; Dublin City Libraries and Dublin City Council. It brings together the best Irish writers, offering a chance for the voices of both established and up and coming writers to be heard.
Entries for the Young Adult Writing Competition should be between 500 and 1000 words and can be on any topic. Stories should be submitted to the following address before 11 February:
Young Adult Writing Competition
Publishing Ireland
Guinness Enterprise Centre,
Taylor’s Lane,
Dublin 8
For more information or competition rules visit www.dublinbookfestival.com
Note to Editors:
Zoë Faulder, spokesperson for the Dublin Book Festival is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on 086 176 9287, or email gert.ackermann@gmail.com.
The 2011 Dublin Book Festival takes place between 2 and 6 March 2011.
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