Alannah

Alannah Hopkin has published two novels, A Joke Goes a Long Way in the Country and The Out-haul (Hamish Hamilton, London) and her non-fiction books include Eating Scenery: West Cork, the People & the Place (The Collins Press, Cork). Her stories have appeared in the London Magazine and the Cork Literary Review, among others. She has written guides to Ireland for Fodor’s, Insight and Berlitz, and also writes about her own travels abroad for magazines. She has reviewed regularly for numerous publications including the Financial Times, the London Evening Standard and the Irish Times. She is currently a regular book reviewer for the Irish Examiner. She also works as an editorial consultant. She is a tutor on Poetry Ireland’s Writers in Schools scheme, and has led writing workshops for adults up to M.A. level. Her first collection of stories, The Dogs of Inishere was published in April, 2017. She is currently working on a new novel set in west Cork, The Ballydevlin Hauntings.

Download full CV.

Represented by The Jonathan Williams Literary Agency, Rosney Mews, Upper Glenageary Rd. Glenageary, Co. Dublin. Telephone: 01 280 3482.

You may be looking for another Alannah. If so this page of alternative spellings might help.

Events

The Dogs of Inishere, a collection of the best of my stories from the past thirty years, will be published in Europe and the US on 21 April, 2017. This marks a welcome return to fiction writing after a long gap.

“A cast of eccentrics and outsiders populates a collection set largely in coastal Ireland.” Kirkus Reviews

“Clean, clear, sharp, savage – absolutely bloody brilliant” Carlo Gébler

“What links these deceptively artless stories is the hint of unsettling possibilities.” Eibhear Walsh, Irish Times, 27 May, 2017.

“It’s the kind of ending where you’re not sure if you should laugh or be appalled.” Lucas Spiro, The Artsfuse, Boston.

Cork Launch – Tuesday 18 April 8.30pm

The Dogs of Inishere, my first story collection, will be launched by Mary Kenny at Cork City Library on Tuesday 18 April at 8.30pm. It is the opening night of the Cork World Book Fest, and follows an event featuring Sally Phipps’ biography of Molly Keane starting at 7.15. http://www.triskelartscentre.ie/downloads/wbf2017-brochure.pdf

Dublin Launch – Wednesday 3 May 6-8pm
The Dogs of Inishere will be launched by Carlo Gébler at the Origin Gallery, Upper Fitzwilliam Street, by kind invitation of Dr. Noelle Campbell Sharp. The Campus Bookshop will have copies for sale, and John O’Brien, the publisher of Dalkey Archive Press will be there.

Fiction at the Friary – Sunday 28 May at 3pm
I will be the guest writer on Sunday 28 May at a new Sunday afternoon event in Cork City for writer s and readers of fiction. It is free, and is held at The Friary, a bar on the corner of North Mall and Shandon Street, from 3 to 6pm. Organised by writers Danielle McLaughlin and Madeleine D’Arcy, it features readings by guest authors, open mic and optional writing exercises in a friendly, welcoming  atmosphere. http://daniellemclaughlin.ie/events/fiction-at-the-friary/ for details.

West Cork Literary Festival – 19 July, 10am
I will be in conversation with someone (to be confirmed) in the Tea Room at Bantry House as part of this amazing festival. http://www.westcorkmusic.ie/literaryfestival/

Poetry Ireland
I am on the panel for Poetry Ireland’s Writers in Schools. I normally work with Transition Year students and fifth and sixth year. Bookings, which are part-funded by Poetry Ireland, must be made well in advance through their website. http://www.poetryireland.ie/education/writers-in-schools.html. Find out more about my workshop work.

Sunday Miscellany
My next contribution to this RTE programme, broadcast at 9.10 on Sundays, will be on air shortly. You can listen back to others on this website, go to my Recent Pieces.