Writers share insights in Cúirt discussions

Four unique themed discussions are being presented at this year’s Cúirt Festival of Literature, which runs from April 23-28.

Each will feature a special pairings of authors whose shared experiences should offer lively discussions and insights into the writing process.

Novelists Sheila Heti and Laurent Binet will kick off the conversation with a talk entitled Characterisation in the Novel; How does an Author fit into the Story?. Both have explored this theme in their recent novels – Heti in How Should a Person Be?: A Novel from Life and Binet in HHhH, which is a fictional account of the assassination of Nazi leader Reinhard Heydrich during World War II Their discussion will take place on Thursday, April 25 at 1.00pm in the Town Hall Studio.
Local writer Mike McCormack will lead a conversation between Ben Marcus and Keith Ridgway on Realism and Surrealism in the Novel, on April 26 at 6.30pm in Town Hall Theatre. Both men have written daring novels – The Flame Alphabet and Hawthorn and Child – which deviate from the traditional novel format. They will talk about their ideas and structure with McCormack, as well as their use of surreal contexts as a backdrop for taboo subjects in both novels.

Earlier that day, at 1pm there will be a discussion between Lucy Caldwell and Tishani Doshi entitled Everything Begins Elsewhere. The authors will discuss the origins of stories and writing across different art forms – drama, poetry and fiction – with Galway City Arts Officer James C. Harrold.

On April 27 at 6.30pm, Irish crime novelist Arlene Hunt will lead a crime panel featuring Stuart Neville, Arne Dahl, and Antti Tuomainen. This event promises a unique insight into crime writing as it features authors from Ireland, Sweden and Finland.

Admission for all the discussions is €8/€6 concession. Tickets are available from Town Hall Theatre. www.tht.ie Booking office 091-569777.