Location: Creative Spark, Clontygora Ct, Muirhevnamore, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Character is Mystery: Creative Writing Workshop with Declan Burke in Association with Wee County, Big Bookclub 2019.

Workshop Description:
Join crime writer Declan Burke for a creative writing workshop focusing on character building in the context of thrillers. The enduring popularity of the crime and mystery novel should be no great surprise; as John Connolly once said, ‘character is mystery’. Why do people do the things they do? Why do apparently rational, law-abiding people commit the most heinous of crimes? Using Liz Nugent’s Skin Deep as an inspiration, the ‘Character is Mystery’ workshop will explore the importance of character in crime and mystery fiction, offering a guide to creating and sustaining plausible, interesting, fictional characters.

or phone (042) 938 5720
Email: hello@creativespark.ie

About Declan
Declan Burke has published six novels, including his debut Eightball Boogie, Slaughter’s Hound, The Big O, Crime Always Pays and Absolute Zero Cool. Declan has also contributed to a number of short story anthologies and essay collections, including Uncage Me, Best British Mysteries Vol. 8, The Quiet Quarter, New Planet Cabaret, and Following the Detectives. His books have been translated into German, French, Dutch, Hungarian, Korean and Portuguese. Absolute Zero Cool won the Goldsboro Prize in 2012. Books to Die For, co-edited with John Connolly, won the Anthony Award for Best Non-fiction Crime in 2013. Most recently, Declan edited the short story collection Trouble is Our Business (2016).

Praise for Declan Burke’s writing:

‘A genuinely original take on noir, inventive and funny…a cross between Flann O’Brien and Raymond Chandler.’ -John Banville

‘Absolute Zero Cool is unlike anything else you’ll read this year…laugh-out-loud funny…this is writing at its dazzling, cleverest zenith. A feat of extraordinary alchemy.’ -Ken Bruen

This workshop is being offered as part of Wee County, Big Bookclub 2019, a partnership project supported by Words Ireland with The Droichead Arts Centre, Louth County Library Service, the Irish Writers Centre, An Táin Arts Centre and Creative Spark. The chosen book for the project is Skin Deep by Liz Nugent. Liz will appear at The Droichead for an author event on September 6th: https://www.droichead.com/show/873605522
An Táin and the library service also have September events as part of the project. For more information contact An Táin and the Library Service directly.