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A Good Year for the Summer Orphans
As some of you will know, I have a novel written — Summer Orphans — following the lives of two young boys, Willie and Pearse, in South Armagh in 1972. And what a year it has been for the boys! I’ve been sending the novel out to various competitions, and the response has been genuinely heartening. This year, Summer Orphans has been: selected for Date With An Agent at the International Literary Festival Dublin longlisted for the Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award longliste
Dec 20, 20252 min read


Pushcarts and Small Presses
I am absolutely delighted — and still a little stunned — to share some unexpected but very welcome news: my short story The Third Pint has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2025 by The Storms literary journal. It was a dream to have the story published in a magazine I have long admired. I could scarcely believe it when Damien and Rhona selected me as their featured prose writer. To discover they believe in the piece strongly enough to put it forward for one of the most re
Nov 29, 20252 min read


Launching The Storms
Wow! Today felt like one of those small, shining moments you look back on years from now and think: yes — that mattered. Such a beautiful journal! I was invited down to Rathfarnham Castle for the launch of the latest issue of The Storms. I was lucky enough to have a story selected for the journal, and was absolutely blown away to be chosen as the featured prose writer for this issue — that phrase still feels surreal to write. Rathfarnham Castle is not just a venue — it’s a p
Nov 1, 20252 min read


It’s Show(case) Time!
Last night I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Freedom to Write Showcase in the beautiful Georgian Society Assembly House in...
Oct 5, 20251 min read


Kilmore-more-more!
I’ve just returned from the wonderful Write by the Sea Festival in Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford — and what a phenomenal weekend it was! This...
Sep 28, 20252 min read


Flash! Ahhhh! I mean Armaghhh!
On Thursday 4th September, I had the pleasure of reading at Flash Fiction Armagh, held as part of the Armagh Food and Cider Festival...
Sep 23, 20252 min read


Sea, Sun and Short Stories
I am absolutely delighted to announce that my short story Deeper Than It Looks has placed second in the Write By The Sea Kilmore Quay...
Sep 1, 20251 min read


Storms on the Horizon
I’m over the moon to announce that my short story The Third Pint has been selected for The Storms, Issue V — and I’ve also been named...
Aug 19, 20251 min read


You Can Do It, Just John Hewitt
What a week, what a week! As some of you may know, I was fortunate enough to be one of ten prose writers from across Ireland selected for...
Aug 3, 20253 min read


From Bantry Bay
It’s been a week since the long drive home from the West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry — and what an unforgettable experience it was....
Jul 26, 20252 min read


Back to the Grind
So I realised it was high time to start updating this website, as two years can pass quickly! And what a time to be updating it! These...
Jul 20, 20251 min read
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