Check out the podcast of Robert Higgin’s interview here.

As you may have noticed from our recent updates, the short stories of the Abandoned Darlings collection have been receiving critical acclaim both in review and on radio.

As the above photographs demonstrate, the anthology has also managed to make its way around the world.

So, the question remains: do you have your copy yet?

And you know what that means — the official launch of the Abandoned Darlings’ anthology is tonight!

With critical acclaim like:

‘What struck me about this collection was its range. In terms of style and voice and location, each writer brings something new to the mix. The writing here is personal and universal, fresh and ambitious and accomplished.’ - Chris Binchy

‘These are the word-songs of a group of writers who have brought their individual voices together to form a distinctive chorus, from Galway and Athlone and across North America. These stories and poems contain truth, display imagination, and most importantly of all, they hum with the unmistakable tone of words that needed to be written.’ - Celeste Auge

‘The writers’ enthusiasm and joy in writing, in experimenting with narrative and language, is evident on all of the pages of this anthology … it was clearly a labour of love and it constitutes a testament to the belief in their creativity and spirit, a belief which we need more than ever today in times that are almost exclusively concerned with narrow materialistic success.’-Eva Bourke

how could you miss it? So come out tonight to Busker Browne’s at 6:30 PM and get your copy of Abandoned Darlings!

Only one day remains until the launch of the Abandoned Darlings anthology! So come out tomorrow evening for some mulled wine and great literature.

Abandoned Darlings in the press!

As many of you know, we outperformed out fundraising goal. Thanks to all of our FUNDIT.IE contributors, hope to see many of you at the launch on December 19.

We’re just two weeks from our deadline and have €64 to go! Help us reach our goal of €1100 — and it’s more than okay surpass it!

Click here to donate.

And we’ve already reached the halfway mark en route to our target of €1100. So check out our Fundit page and give us a wee donation. There are rewards!

The gratitude of the Abandoned Darlings and a personal shout out on our Facebook page AND a copy of the Abandoned Darlings anthology posted out to  your address (+€5 for international postage), AND a digital copy of the book AND a personalised postcard invite to the launch AND an acknowledgement on the digital copy. 

Look out on our Facebook page for your personal shout out!

You can thank Ms. Megan Barr for the witty video.

Behold! Photos from the Abandoned Darling’s Open Mic Night, courtesy of the wondeful Paul O’Mahony. The event, which took place in The Cellar Bar, was a great success for all involved. From top to bottom, right to left: Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Kevin Higgins, the Abandoned Darlings with our featured readers, Gerry Hanberry and of course, Pete Mullineaux.

Our MC for the night, Pete Mullineaux, kicked off the event with some of his own poetry. He then introduced the night’s first guest reader, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, who read a short story from her new collection, Mother America. Following Nuala, Kevin Higgins treated the audience to poetry and excerpts from his book of reviews, Mentioning the War: Essays & Reviews 1999-2011. Gerry Hanberry was our final featured reader of the night; he not only read poetry from At Grattan Road, but also gave the audience a sneak preview of some new poems from his upcoming collection.

After the guest readers, the mic was opened to the audience. Peter Shine got the crowd buzzing with some tunes, which encouraged the audience members to sign up to perform. Each performer gave us something different: prose, poetry, original songs and covers and even a brave a capella performance.

Following the Open Mic, Texan signer-songwriter Christian Wallace crooned and strummed to the listening pleasure of the audience. Newbridge band Sea Area Forecast closed off the night with some gorgeous originals of their own.

A special thanks to all featured readers, Nuala Ní Crochuír, Kevin Higgins, Gerry Hanberry; our MC, Pete Mullineux; our photographer, Paul O’Mahony and The Cellar Bar for hosting the event. A big thanks to everyone for coming out, as well! 

The proceeds of the event are being put toward the publishing costs of the Abandoned Darlings anthology. Keep yours eyes and ears peeled for upcoming events and updates on the progress of the anthology! We anticipate its release in late November.