I’m wrapping up my writing residency in Galway with a sense of accomplishment and affection for a place that welcomes travelers with authentic hospitality. This city of 84,000 hosts numerous festivals—St. Patrick's Day in March, the Film Fleadh in June, the Galway International Arts Festival (wonderful) and the Galway Races in July & early August, plus the Comedy Festival in October and a big Halloween bash.
If this was my town, I think I’d quickly get tired of the crowds and congestion. But everyone I’ve met has been uniformly kind, considerate, and welcoming.
In addition to all of the festivals, the city has been consumed by the drama of their team’s Gaelic football match against Kerry (it’s the Galway Tribesmen against the Kerry Kingdom). Sadly, Galway was bested yesterday, but that didn’t stop the party along a rainy Shop Street.
I’ve spent quite a bit of my time at a carrel in the Galway City Library tapping away at a new project. I’m on schedule at about 57000 words (with a 120,000-word goal). It’s a little disorienting to have my head in the clouds of a “space opera” (defined as a sprawling story that tackles big themes in the context of space exploration), then dive into the conviviality of a Galway street.
But the festivals have left me with potent images. One of the events I most looked forward to was the Compagnie Off’s outdoor performance of “Les Girafes.” As twilight began to settle over the city, other-worldly figures appeared in the distance: huge red giraffe puppets on stilts and a rolling contraption. The circus entourage was accompanied with torches and music from singers on their own large contraptions.
As you can see the giraffes are operated by two puppeteers, one in the front (operating the neck and head) and one in the back, operating the back legs.
Book news
Some exciting book news! The audio version of The Bond releases in August (it’s SO GOOD). Currently, the e-books of The Bond and The Hive Queen are on sale for 99 cents on most platforms (through the end of July). Please pass the word!
As always, online reviews are especially appreciated…
Finally, there will be a social media tour for The Mother’s Wheel in August, leading up to the September release. If you know of a blogger or Instagrammer (or lordy, a Booktocker) who might be interested in being a part of it, please let me know!
Happy reading!