To the writers the only real suggestion I would give them is to set up a blog or web page where you can be found via a search of your name. Many of the writers see themselves, I think, as primarily poets. A few will have disappeared from the scene by then, I guess. I think it would be amazing to publish a follow anthology every once and while, actually every year would be nice but I do not know if this is a viable business idea or not, say in five or ten years to see where the writers are doing. Some will stop writing or trying to publish, either from frustration, blockage or boredom. Of these 30 writers I think a good number could develop into major talents, some or maybe most will get involved with families and the careers needed to support them and will become occasional 'hobby writers'. If one were to follow these 30 writers over the years I think you could gain a very good grasp of how writers develop and of the social and business aspects of the being an Irish writer in the 21st century. I think the real lasting import of this book might be that it can be used as kind of study tool.

Besides reading lots of good stories and learning of 27 new writers (I had previously read stories by two of the writers and one of the works was an extract so I did not post on it) I think I got a good feel for the state of the contemporary Irish short story. John Walsh in his introduction says he thinks this book may become a collectors item and I agree.

Of course I liked some more than others, that does not mean that the ones I prefer are the best, they are just the ones I like best. Many of the stories reflect the current economic plight of Ireland. I know it is easy to say this but there was not a bad story in the collection. The stories ranged from works very much in the tradition of the Irish story teller, to works on the lives of contemporary young Urban Irish people (all the authors are from Ireland and under 30 years old), to stories of lyrical beauty to works of great biting wit and satire. I was tremendously impressed, entertained and often edified by the stories in the collection. I have now reviewed and posted on all of the short stories in 30 Under 30: A Selection of Short Stories by Thirty Young Irish Writers edited by Elizabeth Reapy.

Life after life book awards