This year’s Aspects Festival which takes place in Bangor from 22 September – 2 October is delighted to host a series of events which will celebrate and support new writers and new publications.
On Thursday 22 September at North Down Museum, crime writers Anthony J. Quinn and Jason Johnson will launch their latest works; Murder Memoir Murder and Did She See You? Anthony J. Quinn’s nine crime novels have received wide critical acclaim. His novel Disappeared (2014) was long listed for the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel. Murder Memoir Murder is a crime fiction story set in the landscape of a rural parish in South Tyrone. Jason Johnson is the co-author of Slave (2018) and the author of four novels: Aloysius Tempo (2015), Sinker (2014), Woundlicker (2005) and Alina (2006). His new novel Did She See You? examines how we view ourselves and the world around us, social media and mental illness. Join them as they chat to Sharon Dempsey about their new books and their careers and inspirations.
Authors Catríona Lally and Andrew Meehan will make an appearance in North Down Museum on Friday 23 September to discuss their latest novels; Wunderland and Instant Fires. Catríona Lally is an Irish writer and the recipient of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 2018. Her first novel Eggshells was shortlisted for the Newcomer Award at the 2015 Irish Book Awards and the Kate O’Brien Debut Novel Award. Andrew Meehan is a well-known script writer and formerly Head of Development at the Irish Film Board. His debut novel One Star Awake was published in 2017 and has been longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize, the UK’s most prestigious award for debut novelists.
Northern Irish writer Laura McVeigh will discuss her new book Lenny on Saturday 1 October at North Down Museum. Lenny is an enchanting and timely story of family and love and the power of a young boy’s imagination. Lenny is Laura’s second novel and has been shortlisted in Hollywood’s Cinematic Book Contest. Speaking about Lenny, author Jan Carson said: “McVeigh’s storytelling takes her readers on a journey which effortlessly spans time, geography and reality itself.“
The Festival is delighted to welcome back to the programme local poets Maureen Boyle and Moyra Donaldson who will read from their latest works at North Down Museum on Saturday 24 September. Maureen’s new book The Last Spring of the World commemorates the 450th anniversary of the birth of the poet John Donne, partly in the voice of Donne’s wife Ann More. Moyra’s poems in Bone House centre around the powerful and sometimes troubled relationships between mothers and daughters.
Speaking about the events, Festival Director Patricia Hamilton said: “Aspects Festival is proud to bring events featuring new books from across Ireland and give audiences an insight into the writer’s journey, challenges and inspirations. It is a unique experience for the audience to ask questions personal to them and hear the author read from their new work. I am really looking forward to welcoming these wonderful writers to the Festival, many visiting Bangor and Aspects Festival for the first time.”
Aspects Festival runs until from 22 September to 2 October at various locations around Bangor. For further information on the programme and to book tickets see: aspectsfestival.com