I was at a really wonderfully welcoming and warm event in Waterstones Cork earlier this eve. Insightful, funny, joyous - as it should be 👌 Patrick Holloway was a fantastic host chatting to Wendy Erskine (The Benefactors) and Andrew Cunning (Clara and Christina) Honestly we could still be there ❤️

Described as 'a big-hearted, emotional romance that will grip readers until the end' Love Unlocked by Cecelia Ahern publishes August 27th Inspired by the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris TY to Harper Collins Ire 💙

This is a brilliantly observed line... [The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter] 'Families tended to hold on to the version of you that they had the most control over' #booksky

Cathy thanks so much xx

Seriously... What is this? I naively thought that @bsky.app was better than this

'Breaking them in' time... (my feet will thank me but I'm getting quare looks from my crew as I sashay around the place 😂)

Good evening folks 👋 Q for those of you not watching the World Cup - what's everyone reading right now? I just started Tata by Valérie Perrin (Europa Editions)

Went to see Disclosure Day last night. Highly entertaining Spielberg movie... but the Q remains about all the symbolism & that ending 🤔 Is there a message or are we just looking for one? Have you seen it? Thoughts?

#BookReview #Land by Maggie O'Farrell 1865 Ireland, post The Great Hunger A breathtaking piece of work, one of immense scope An epic tale, a masterpiece in storytelling, bringing the pain & anguish of a people to the page Read my full review: www.swirlandthread.com/land-by-magg... #booksky

I remember loving Still Life by Sarah Winman (2022) so much, I thought I would share my review here on this platform www.swirlandthread.com/still-life-s... It's an exceptionally beautiful and charming read filled with a spectacular cast Have you read it?

#BookReview This is Also a Love Story: Searching for Good in a Divided World by Sally Hayden With authenticity, humility & love, Sally Hayden bears witness to the society we live in today Exceptional & striking read Out now w/ @4thestatebooks.bsky.social www.swirlandthread.com/this-is-also...

I was honoured to be asked to participate in this series for the Cork Independent A bit different being on the other side being asked the Qs 🙈

All these fab writers have generously shared their wonderful tips & tricks over on my 'Write Smarter with' blog series. The link to the full 'Write Smarter with' series of posts (to date) is: www.swirlandthread.com/category/wri... TY to all 🙏 Keep an 👀out for more & do share #writingcommunity

#BookReview The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb New historical fiction, mixing fact & fiction, set against the backdrop of the 'curse' of the legendary Hope Diamond Read: www.swirlandthread.com/the-hope-kee... #booksky #summerreading

I had such a blast at two recent fab book events Thursday I was with Cónal Creedon in Inchigeelagh on our Two for the Road tour celebrating Bealtaine Festival 2026 📖 Yesterday I hosted Murder at the Bower at Leaf & Bower bookshop chatting to Amy Jordan, Catherine Kirwan & Michelle McDonagh 📖 ❤️❤️❤️

#BookReview Walking to the Foot of the Sky by Miriam Mulcahy @mirmulcahy.bsky.social Stunning account of an important piece of Irish history A life-affirming story of self-discovery & truth, of one woman's pilgrimage to find herself again www.swirlandthread.com/walking-to-t... #booksky

Write Smarter with Rebecca Spelman 'Sharing your work in any capacity can be scary; throw in public speaking & stage lights, and suddenly you wonder how this happened to you' How reading at events like open mics can be really beneficial 👇 www.swirlandthread.com/write-smarte... #writingcommunity

Huge congrats to @grainneobrien.bsky.social whose debut novel SOLO has won the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Junior Juries’ Award 2026 🎉 Gráinne generously shared her writing wisdom on my 'Write Smarter with' series a few weeks back so ICYMI 👇 www.swirlandthread.com/write-smarte... #booksky

'All stories are a ‘telling’, fictionalised to some degree but I believe memoirs should be faithful to the lived experience. Doing that required me to relive some upsetting moments from my own life' Tracey Iceton, author of Sparky My Barn Owl Story Read more: www.swirlandthread.com/sparky-my-ba...

#BookReview #LoveScene by Anna Carey An enchanting romance bursting with a kaleidoscope of personalities all vividly depicted. A sweet & wholesome read. Read my full review at: www.swirlandthread.com/love-scene-a... #booksky

Ah listen if you can... Extraordinary stuff 👏

Write Smarter with E.R. Murray @ermurray.bsky.social 'For me, a residency is all about stealing back time  to rebalance and reset. It’s a shift in focus, both investment and reward.' Read - 'Curating Space with Writing Residencies' www.swirlandthread.com/write-smarte... #booksky #writersky

#BookReview Hungry: A Biography of My Body by Katriona O'Sullivan (bestselling author of Poor) An inspiring story about one woman's struggle to learn self-acceptance & self-worth Raw & compassionate Written with dignity, integrity & authenticity www.swirlandthread.com/hungry-katri... #booksky

I'm off on a virtual journey via the Beara Breifne Way with Miriam Mulcahy who decided to follow in the footsteps of Domhnall Cam O'Sullivan Beara's 'fateful march in 1603' That brutal Dursey Island massacre 💔 #spéirgorm #booksky #travelsky

#BookReview #ReportedMissing by Joseph Birchall (Detective Darcy Doyle Bk 2) After the final whistle blows there is no trace of Alfie. He has vanished. Action-packed series with great characters and stellar plots Read my thoughts: www.swirlandthread.com/reported-mis... #booksky #crimefiction

#BookReview #CrossingOver by Anne Cadwallader Lena Dawson's Belfast is drawn from Anne Cadwallader's own personal experience in N. Ireland as an investigative journalist Stark & atmospheric debut www.swirlandthread.com/crossing-ove... @annecadwallader.bsky.social @mercierpress.bsky.social

Write Smarter with Alex Dunne, author of Small Magics (March 2026, O'Brien Press) @alexdunnewrites.bsky.social 'Abandoning something doesn’t mean you’ve wasted time. You’ve still written something and you’ve practiced your craft' Be inspired & read more at: www.swirlandthread.com/write-smarte...

#BookReview #PrestigeDrama by Séamas O'Reilly A wonderfully witty, yet tragic, story set in Derry A perceptive tale, a striking debut. This is a wee gem I 💯 recommend Available from May 7th (Fleet) (👌 for Kevin Barry fans) Read my thoughts: www.swirlandthread.com/prestige-dra... #booksky

#Extract Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman by Scott Reisfield A Unique Perspective from Scott Reisfield, Garbo’s great nephew 'Greta Garbo wasn’t just a film star—she was the blueprint for the Modern Woman..' Read more: www.swirlandthread.com/greta-garbo-... #GretaGarboModernWoman

'Tell people you’re a writer. Practice saying it.' Write Smarter with Rebecca Murphy Winner of the RTÉ Today Show Novel Competition Be inspired with your writing w/ the lessons learned by other writers 👇 www.swirlandthread.com/write-smarte... Blood & Water OUT May 2026 @mercierpress.bsky.social