Rewarded and awarded for my writing!

With great delight and gratitude, I received a Second Prize in the Irish Wheelchair Association's Writers competition, (in association with the Irish Writers Centre) last Saturday.
My autobiographical-non fiction story Edvard Munch meets Louis Armstrong, and the work of the two other winners, Kevin (First prize-poetry) Jerry (joint Second- fiction) will be published in the IWA's Spokeout Magazine this summer.

Watch this space!

A Real Virtual Exhibition!

I have been invited to exhibit my artwork at the Murdoch Institute, in the virtual world Second Life. (If you are a ‘Second Lifer’ See it here. )

The exhibition features creative works in all forms authored by people with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome).You will see paintings, illustrations, line drawings, sculpture, digital art, poems, prose, song lyrics and more. Every contributor has a story to tell. The exhibition is being launched on International ME/CFS Awareness Day in order to promote awareness of this misunderstood, under-funded and under-researched illness. Despite having ME/CFS, contributors to the exhibition have demonstrated an amazing wealth of talent.

About My Art

My art? Well, where to start!?

Making my first rag doll at the age of 10, I became more and more intersted in the exciting art of making dolls. Many, many years later, after a career in nursing and social care work, and a move to Ireland, I became known for my Artist Dolls under the name of Fantasy Folk.
For some samples of this work see "My Art" button

In 1998 my health deteriorated rapidly and I became unable to work on my Fantasy Folk figures. But my creative mind did not stop. I started to make drawings and later paintings, about my new excistence. (living with the condition M.E.) I learned that I could be 'free' on paper, and could express my deepest thoughts and desires.
(see "My Art" button above)

The drawing of an egg, brought me to the realisation that I was granted a chance of a new life... These drawings, and all that followed were the inspiration of my book Hatched.

Having gained some energy, stamina and coordination again, my greatest love is sculpting! I just love the feel of the clay. One of the pieces I made a few years ago - Naked Truth is a piece about the reality of being dependent on 'wheels' to get around. A very personal piece, stripped down to bare reality.

And of course there is photography... I can not help but take pictures of tiny buds on flowers, birds in my garden, and the odd picture of my cat Robert. But not all are for fun, I have used some of the images in my recent books Cirrus Chronicles- Landing in Ballynelligan, and Flying on Little Wings

I actually really enjoy the fact that I can entertwine all my creative ideas into new projects!

My place of work? My garden, and the world inside my head where a lot of seeds to new work are nurtured and developed.

Hatched- A Creative Journey Though M.E.

Hatched finally emerged in 2005, after years of writing, and creating ‘art that worked’ (not necessarily works of art…).

The mountain of diary pages, were miraculously reduced to a series of poems.

Katie Lincoln's documentary "Flight Path", accompanying the book, follows the process of getting the book together.

Hatched was published in 2006 with the financial support of the Waterford County Council Arts Office and Arts Council of Ireland, and was launched during the Immrama festival of Travel Writing in Lismore.

The Cirrus Chronicles

Cirrus Chronicles- Arriving in Ballynelligan.

This book, which I wrote and illustrated, is the first in a series of Fables, which follows the adventures of Cloud Fairy Cirrus.

Cirrus, a 10-year-old resident from Cloud Nine, accidentally lands in a field in Ballynelligan- Ireland. He encounters a Robin, Wren, and a Song Thrush, who tell him all about their lives and life in the area. He befriends Wally Wood Mouse and received the help of Robert Cat and the partying Christmas Tree Fairies to find a way home again. Magic is in the air!

Storyteller Nuala Hayes’s 7-year –old granddaughter Síafra gave it a hundred out of a hundred! (…which she later updated to 1000 out of 1000!)

Arts reviewer of the Munster Express wrote: ...I love the real world around Lismore that Corina Duyn has conjured up, especially the Cloudland International Rainbow Dance Festival, where the cloud fairies dance and eat sky-blue candyfloss and drink rainbow lemonade. You may even learn Cloud-Hole-Jumping.

... if you can’t WAIT to have a personally singed copy in your possession, please go to the "shop" link in the menu above.

Note that all writing and illustrations are copyrighted © Corina Duyn 2009

Where to find your very own copy

Availability of Cirrus Chronicles

Cork

· Alan Primm Bookshop, Main Street, Youghal, Co. Cork

· Leo Teo Russle, Oliver Pluncket Street, Cork City

· Phyllips Bookshop, 34 Bank Place, Mallow, Co. Cork

· Kinsale Bookshop, 8 Main Street, Kinsale, Co. Cork

· Midleton Books, Main Street, Midleton, Co. Cork

· Fermoy Books, 19 Patrick Street, Fermoy, Co. Cork

· Courtyard, Main Street, Midleton, Co. Cork

Donegal

· The Four Masters Bookshop, The Diamond, Donegal

Dublin

· The Winding Stairs Bookshop, 40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

Galway

· Kennys Bookshop, Liosbaun Estate, Galway

· Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Cornstore, Middle Street, Galway

· Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Main Street, Oranmore, Co. Galway

Kerry

· Kenmare Bookshop, Shelbourne Street, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

· Dolly Mc Carthy, Main Street, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

· Quills, Main Street, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

· Dingle Bookshop, Green Street, Dingle, Co. Kerry

Kilkenny

· The Book Centre, 10 High Street, Kilkenny

· Kilkenny Design Centre, Castle Yard, Kilkenny

Leitrim

· Keaneys Bookshop, Main Street, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim

Mayo

· Castle Book and Card Centre, Castle Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Offaly

· Midland Books, High Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Tipperary

· The Book Market, Market Place, Shopping Centre, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

· Nenagh Bookshop, Friar Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

Waterford:

· Lismore Gallery, Main Street, Lismore, Co. Waterford

· Blackwater Books, Chapel Street, Lismore, Co. Waterford

· O'Brien Chophouse, Main Street, Lismore, Co. Waterford

· Lismore Heritage Centre, Lismore, Co. Waterford

· Cahill’s, Main Street, Lismore, Co. Waterford

· Byrne’s World of Wonder, 14 Marystreet, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

· Eason, Dungarvan Shopping Centre, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

· Ardmore Pottery, Cliff Road, Ardmore, Co. Waterford

· The Book Centre, 25 John Roberts Square, Waterford city

Wexford

· Book Centre, 5 South Main Street, Wexford

Wicklow

· Cupla Focal, 15-16 Albert Walk, Bray, Co. Wicklow