Arlene Hunt – Writer

For those of y’all who might be interested in such folly, I am appearing on TV3, at about 8:15 in the AM(!) to talk all things books.

The very excellent http://crimealwayspays.blogspot.com/ will be putting up a little quiz  where by interested readers can bag a copy of Undertow. If you want a copy do please apply. If you want to watch me turn carrot red and be all coy, do please tune in.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Though publication date was originally 18th of September, my bookish spies tell me Undertow is already in the shops. Hurray.

It has been quite a hectic few days. On Saturday I took part in the Books 2008 weekend. It was a terrific day held out in Dun Laoghaire. Despite the wild and windy start to the morning there was robust turn out. I got a chance to take part on two panels with esteemed authors, Declan Burke, John Connolly, Brian McGilloway ( whose third baby was only days away from being born), Alex Barclay,  Gene Kerrigan and the lovely Ruth Dudley Edwards, whose dry wit had me tittering with glee. I also met the charming Stuart Neville, whose red business card I envied and on whose new and unpublished novel, The Ghosts of Belfast, I cannot wait to crack the spine. It was a real pleasure to also meet Mick Halpin ( plus lovely wife and beautiful son) and blogger, the terrifically bearded, Peter Rozovsky.  Declan has a good review of the day itself over at Crime always pays.

This morning I was a guest on the Ryan Tuburidy show. I was busily slithering ever downwards on my chair when I thought I recognised the dulcet tones of Mister J Connolly. And lo it was the man himself, bag jauntily swinging over his shoulders.

‘You look like you just fell out of bed’, he said cheerily and damnably fresh-faced.

Quite.

Alex Barclay was on the line all the way from New York and soon we three were busily trying to explain just what on earth we do to make our books appear as well researched as possible. John and Alex both physically visit and talk to people when plotting their books. I had to admit that I am more of a keyboard researcher, although my fecund imagination is pretty ripe for picking at any time day or night.

I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I really do enjoy these opportunities to fratenise with other writers. It can be such an insular profession. Not that I’m complaining, I covet my time and enjoy creating and writing and pondering what my next move might be. It’s a delight to be able to make a living doing something I love and something I would never take for granted.

I suppose all I’m really trying to say is that meeting other writers I admire and enjoy reading is a pretty groovy experience