They’re Irish. They’re hairy. And they’re taking over the world. It’s all very well perfecting your craft – whatever that might be – and seeking fame and fortune on the strength of it. But the fact is that unless you grow the hair to go with it, you’re wasting your time. I lay the cases…
The Laziest Holiday In The World (With Mind-Blowing Photographs)
I took a holiday this week. At home. In Dublin. It was almost entirely unplanned, in that I only decided to have a holiday last Friday, and I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do any of the stuff you’re supposed to do on holidays in order to call it a holiday. Here is a list of the stuff people…
Authors! Your Free Book Is Worthless
I’ve been wondering about book pricing for a long time. Specifically, whether making your book free makes me bothered about reading it or not. And I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not. Bothered, that is. But before you start weeping and wailing (yes – you in the back, there) this has to be taken in the context of…
Why Your Attention Span Is A Great Excuse For Someone Else’s Failure
I wasn’t well last week, and ended up feeling dreadfully sorry for myself. Now, there’s nothing on earth can feel quite as sorry for itself as an Irish woman, so it can get quite dark. Anyhoo, as I lay prostrate, bemoaning the state of both my health and my immediate prospects, my lamentations eventually began to…
It Ain’t What You Write, It’s The Way That They Read It
Hey, guys! Remember when you wrote a book and it was nominated for lots of prizes and everyone said how great you were? No? Well, read on then. If, on the other hand, you’re somebody who does remember getting loads of accolades and serious prizes for your work, I’d suggest you get back under the…
Inappropriate Stock Photo Of The Week: The Doctor
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to this much-esteemed award, contenders for which include any publication whose lazy and ham-handed use of irrelevant, terrible or inappropriate stock photos for illustration purposes deserves both recognition, and a good kick up the arse. Check this guy out. Hmmm. He’s a manager? Sure. And I’m a shy and retiring…
You ****! You Just Can’t Say That On The Internet
It’s the ILF Dublin this week (International Literature Festival Dublin – formerly known as the Dublin Writers’ Festival – related attempt at satire here) and the city is swimming in a lovely pool of gorgeous writerly types putting themselves out there for our ogling and listening pleasure. On Tuesday I went to hear Jon Ronson, author of…
Tark And Mara Monetise That Weather We’re Having
“I’ve decided we need a new season.” Tark waved a manicured hand at his chest barber in dismissal, and wiped his newly-shaven belly with a monogrammed towel before dismounting from an uncomfortably tall massage table. He swore they had it raised on purpose before his appointments. It was their only way of feeling superior to a client so great…
5 Reasons The Internet Doesn’t Get Irony
I’ve been doing loads of giving out here, lately. It’s been lovely. Lambasting things like Twitter and terrible book marketing is more fun than reading cartoons whilst sipping champagne through a straw in a giant bathtub full of bubble wrap. The response has been enlightening, too. I expected lots of giving out in return. People taking offence at my offensiveness. I didn’t get…
Love, And The Way It Might Steal You Away
Today, this cynical old blogger wants to talk about love. * Because just 2 short weeks ago, I fell in it. I found myself swimming in sticky, glorious, all-consuming love. I tumbled into it while reading a book. I’m going to be mean, and not tell you which it was, because it was an old book, already famous, and I don’t want this…
Tara Sparling writes 