In Bed I cut words - a winning book

“Authenticity is at the heart of this collection.” 

Judges: North Star Collective of Authors  

In bed I cut words- winner at CAP awards for Indies

 

I am Beyond Words.  

My book - Our book ‘In Bed I cut words’ was awarded winner in the Anthologies Category at  The Carousel Awards for Irish Independent Authors (CAP) 

  

Around 5 pm. an hour before the event started at Chapters Bookstore Dublin, on the 10th of October 2025, I dictated some thoughts on my phone: “…It breaks my heart that I’m not there. But that is reality of life with severe ME. I can think of places to go with the reality being different. I’m here in my nursing home room in bed looking out over the mountains but my heart is with you all.

“… It’s kind of like a little bit of history made. A book created from collages made in bed, with words by many others, and made into a beautiful piece of art by designer David Murphy from Red Heaven Design. It has been loved, shared, and the story honoured by so so many around Ireland, around the world. 

I would not have been able to do this without the support from soo many….” (See my book web page)

Watching the event and communicating with my brother 

I watched parts of the award ceremony on my iPad. It isn’t easy for me to look at a screen for anything longer than a few minutes but it was wonderful to be able to be part of the night… just in case…Also it was also very much past my bedtime. 

Around 7pm  My book was being reviewed along with the other 5 brilliant shortlisted books in the Anthologies Category. The Judges for this category were North Star Collective of Authors who said: “It has been a challenge and a delight to judge the entries in this category. On behalf of Shelley Tracey, Adeline Henry and myself, Anne McMaster, I’m delighted to give our feedback on these remarkable anthologies and announce the winner in this category.… 

Anne McMaster from North Star Collective of Authors

If you like to hear what they said about my book, please go to 1:06:16 on youtube 

“We were deeply moved by In bed I cut words – by Corina Duyn Artist in care  - an original, haunting and beautifully produced book containing words and artworks created by Corina Duyn which reflect on her experiences of severe ME. 

The book is enhanced by a commentary of the artist who supported her and by a range of people involved in Corina’s care.  With its selection of voices and its striking, thought-provoking and deeply moving collages - this anthology makes a powerful case for the arts in care, helping patients to express themselves and to connect with their creativity. 

Corina addresses evergreen themes here: the idea of home, illness, ageing / loss of independence. Importantly, it highlights the value of a creative practice for both in-the-moment enjoyment and self-expression. Corina draws us into a pattern and rhythm as we moving through from one image to the next, searching out the words in each collage – unpacking her moving observations of the life she lives. 

These words and images ask for our time and our attention -  they identify a woman who lives with an all-consuming, overwhelming illness but who explores her condition and her world with a truly fine articulate mind. 

Authenticity is at the heart of this collection; it’s what this anthology is all about. It is about being heard and about being seen. Given Corina’s isolation, her lack of mobility and often her invisibility, this anthology showcases a clear, strong artistic voice. This anthology carries a clear personal voice of loss and loneliness, of tiredness, of creativity and of a deep ache to go home. 

This is a stunning collection that will stay with us – and that is why I’m happy to say that it’s our unanimous decision to award In Bed I cut Words by Corina Duyn first place in this category. 

Thank you.”

The after:

Wow.

Yes.

I did it.

We did it.

Surreal.

My brother Joop, and Niece Aisling at the event 

My brother Joop Duyn received the award on my behalf.

“I am Corina’s older brother, and the two of us are living in Ireland for the past 40 years… She has been diagnosed with this illness at least 25 years. l've seen her going down and down and at the moment she's lying flat. She's actually looking at us.  She's in her nursing home, but she's very happy at the moment. This is a big achievement for a person with so little mobility… This is her biggest award.”

I did it…

I rang the bell to alert the staff.

I texted with friends.

My brother rang.

Carer came to congratulate me and paged through the book.

So many messages…

So many thoughts…

Sunday

My brother Joop travelled from Dublin, to Mooncoin, on his way back to Kerry, to bring me the award in person. And tell me all about the night. 

It is real! I really did win the award. I have the trophy.

With my brother Joop handing over my award on Sunday

The weekend on social media

Over the weekend this achievement was well celebrated on social media by ME Advocates Ireland, as well as friends and other writers. I was delighted, as I certainly was not able to share this news myself, but over the days was able to read the many, many comments and shares, and respond to some of them. All helping me to understand not just the joy of having been awarded a CAP award for my book, but inadvertently brought the world of severe ME to a different audience…

“You've managed to bring awareness to ME in a way that is unquantifiable.”    Sarah Meehan O'Callaghan

*** 

“….Through her writing, Corina has once again shone a much needed light on Severe ME, sharing, with courage and grace, the daily realities and challenges faced by those living with this devastating disease.  We are beyond proud of Corina for this incredible achievement, and for using her voice to bring visibility, understanding, and strength to our Severe ME community.”  

ME Advocates Ireland (MEAI)

The now 

I will continue to digest this news. Am delighted. Am overwhelmed. What does this means to me personally. Life in care. What does this means to me creatively.  I believed my work was done. Perhaps it isn’t. I will shift through the impact of the judges profound words. I cry when I hear them being spoken or read the transcript. The unwavering believe in my work from so many. What it means to being a voice for those ill, and those living in care

How to go from here…
There are a few books available, and for any updates on future releases, please keep an eye out on my website and social media pages.

But for now - A Big Thank You to everyone who made this possible, and to the CAP team for this worthy events to highlight the work by independent authors. And for the opportunity to witness the award event via YouTube. Much gratitude.

PS

See also Creative Waterford post: HERE

Update March 2026.

The book can now be read and shared for free on ISSUU - LITTLE WINGS  including all Corina’s catalogue of writing created over the past twenty years 

Launch of the CAP Awards 2017

What a 'goosebump-creating' combination: Writing and mental health awareness.

One day last September I turned on my computer and saw an email coming in with the shortlist of the first ever CAP Awards for self published authors. 

In short, the Carousel Aware Prize is a competition is to celebrate writers who self publish their books. All proceeds go to Aware, an Irish Charity who educates and empowers people to look after their mental health.

Reading through the email I saw that my Into the Light book was shortlisted under the non-fiction category.

If you could have seen me you would have laughed out loud.

To paint the picture:

I was sitting in my wheelchair at my desk.

As I got so excited to see my name on the list, I was literary jumping out of my chair, and landing back in it... if that makes sense.

I had to put the brakes on as I was afraid the chair- and me in it- would wheel itself out of the room, or out the window.

You know, it is Very Exciting Stuff to have one's book shortlisted!

The Gala Evening to announce the winners was held at the Teachers Club in Dublin. I made the journey down. Most of the shortlisted authors were present, as where a lot of their supporters and others interested in the written word.

The room was packed and buzzing with the excitement, and nervous anticipation by the short listed authors, as well as from the thought provoking speeches about mental health.  It was quite amazing to hear how many people are in some way touched by mental health issues.

Of course there was lots of talk about books too. And about publishing. And announcing the winners of each of the categories.

Although I was not the winner in my category, I am immensely proud to have been part of this exciting new journey for independent authors. 

We are all winners.

The writers - the committee- the judges and Aware!

Since that time it is quite hearth warming to have made so many new contacts with the other short listed writers, and also with editors, and others who were involved with the event, and to have been contacted by publishers of book and writing magazines.

Thank you all!  It is wonderful to have been acknowledged into this world of publishing.

Into the Light indeed!

The launch of the CAP Awards 2017  is this Saturday  25th March 14.00 to 17.00 at Club Na Muinteoiri  36 Parnell Square West, Dublin. See HERE for a list of speakers and activities for the day.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to travel down, but I am certainly there in spirit.

Links and further reading

• CAP Awards announced
• Carolann Copland The Guardian of Indie Authors
• A story about the journey to and from Dublin Traveling into other worlds - Dublin!
• Newspaper review Before and after CAP
• Into the Light Free postage book offer till this Sunday 26th March 

Flying out on Little Wings

Flying on Little Wings

At the end of this eventful year, personally and in the world, I find myself setting off on my next flight on Little Wings with the thought: "I don’t want to rip the skies wide open, I just want my song to be heard.."

The recent meetings with some amazing people like Carolann Copland at the CAP Awards for Indie Writers in Dublin,  Grace O'Sullivan at the launch of Dis-ability ... This Ability exhibition,  Bernadette and Stan Phillips who invited me to chat on their World in View radio program, and Mags Durand - social media mentor-   have collectively set me up for my next flight on 'Little Wings'.   But of course it is not just this select group of people, but all of you who have supported me throughout this year of discovery, of challenges, beauty, pain, gratitude, puppets, creativity, and new friendships - in real life and in cyberspace.

Thank you, from the deepest space in my heart

for being part of my journey - part of my life.

Wishing you all a peaceful year ahead.

As this past week brought me back to the wise words of singer Kris Delmhorst, who years ago gave me permission to use her song Little Wings in the Flight Path documentary about the making of my book Hatched, I will leave you with the lyrics of her song, which you can also listen to  here . 

Little wings by Kris Delmhorst

today I went flying in my favorite patch of sky
I circled and I circled above the world so high
and I thought to myself, what a lovely lovely thing
to be up here with the clouds, to be flying right out loud on little wings

then I met a 747, then he knocked me right out of the sky
he landed down beside me, he looked me in the eye and said
I don’t know why you even bother, I don’t know why you even try
I don’t know where you hope to get to, I don’t know how you hope to fly on those little wings
little wings
little wings
little wings

now I don’t want to be a jet airliner, I just want to be a little bird
I don’t want to rip the skies wide open, I just want my song to be heard
and I don’t want to be state of the art, I don’t want to get there overnight
I just want to be part of all this beauty, want to be part of all this flight on little wings

I’ll never be a flea in your circus, I’ll never be a prop up on your stage,
I’ll never be one more little songbird you can try to keep inside your cage,
you’re never gonna tell me where to fly, you’re never gonna tell me what to sing
and if I end up lost and all alone at least I know I got there on my own two little wings

I guess that you reap what you sow
I guess it gets lonely at the top
I guess it gets harder and harder

to ever really know just when to stop