Taking Flight a new book of poems & stories from Gorey Writers Group

The Gorey Writers group have been in existence for fourteen years, a labour of love from Bernie Walsh who remains the constant over all those years, chairing the twice-monthly meetings and holding down her own day jobs at the same time. Others have helped of course but it simply wouldn't exist without Bernie.

Around a table sit a stable core of regulars who are open and welcoming to newcomers who pop their heads around the door nervously, not knowing if what they laughingly call "writing" withstands any other humans scrutiny. I turned up four years ago and haven't looked back.

The motives of the writers and poets are as diverse as their path to this room. Some seek ultimately to earn a living from writing and this is the first step, others wish to publish a memoir of their lives or some of their families lives and others still seek simply to enjoy the study of English and the nightly exercises the group complete. Some just enjoy meeting like-minded people and find the social element is as strong a driver as the desire to write. If you have an interest and live in the greater Gorey/ Wexford/ Enniscorthy/ Arklow area make contact with the group and see if this group are for you. goreywriters.blogspot.com

Whatever the motive we started the year and committed to completing the group's second volume of short stories and poems. Twenty-five of our nearly forty members contributed completely original work and the wonderful poet-come publisher Carol Boland not only sat with each one and edited their piece but also published the book. I, myself have a short story included.

The launch occurred last Thursday 28th November in Gorey Library at 7:00 pm with music, readings and much food and drink.

Presently the book "Taking Flight" is only available in the Gorey bookshop Zozimus on the Main Street. www.zozimusbookshop.com 

I'll see if I can persuade the team to put it on Kindle and place copies in the Book Centre in Wexford Town.

I have a few copies myself so if you want to grab a lovely Christmas present for some bookworm you know would enjoy original writing, contact me on the tab on this site or through any of my social media pages.

AnneMarie Hammel with her cake baked for the launch.