Belinda to attend Listowel Writers' Week
Stonepark native Belinda McKeon is among a number of eminent Irish writers who have been invited to participate in the prestigious Listowel Writers' Week (May 30 to June 3 next).
The county Longford lady, who will give a reading at the event, will be in the company of other members of the International literatti such as Des Bishop, Colm Tobín, Paul Durcan, Carol Birch, Anne Enright, Helen Dunmore, Germaine Greer and Maureen Gaffney.
Further details regarding the Listowel Writers' Week, including information about workshops, readings and entertainment, can be found at www.writersweek.ie.
Belinda, a daughter of Oliver and Angela, also featured in the latest edition of Irish Country Living. The interview focused upon the farming and rural aspects of her début novel 'Solace'. Specifically the piece looks at how 'Solace' "follows on from where writers like John McGahern left off. Yet Belinda believes it's a story for this generation".
"For me, the world of the farm is as modern as it gets still. Look at the centrality of farming apparently to Ireland to our way forward, and look at all the young men and women who are farming. It's really insulting to suggest that their world belongs only to Patrick Kavanagh and John McGahern," said Belinda speaking to journalist Maria Moynihan.
The full-page feature also took a brief look at the talented writer's second novel. This latest book, which will be published by Picador, is about two friends and is set between Dublin and New York.
"Though it's actually strayed into Longford and Leitrim," said Belinda who is married to Aengus Woods of Drumshanbo, county Leitrim.
Recently, the former student of Stonepark National School (NS) also featured at a special night at The Centre for Fiction, New York. There she engaged in a discussion with Colm Tobín about their writing.
Regarded as one of Ireland's strongest emerging talents, Belinda's work 'Solace' has earned her the Kirkus Outstanding Début of 2011, and Irish Book of the Year at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards. She is also currently under commission to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.