Crowd funding and being on the radio

What       a      Week!

Outside RTE, photo by Sarah Meehan

The last few weeks have been very busy indeed. Brendan - my media man- has been working hard to set up a facebook page, get the crowd funding proposal ready for my book project "Into the Light".  I helped where I could. We created a video about the project. We also made some changes to my website to make the art and photography galleries viewable on tablets and mobile phones ... and I was on the radio...

The Fund It crowd-funding page was launched yesterday,  to help me publish my Into the Light book.

The idea is that people who like my project can pledge money toward the printing of my book pages and the making of the boxes. There are various rewards in return:

• Copies of my previous books,
• A signed and numbered pre-publication copy of Into the Light in the wooden box,
• One of the twelve special editions boxes, a linen covered case, made by Muckross Bookbindery,
• Have YOUR name printed in my book, as acknowledgment of your support,
• And there are a variety of original artworks and tapestries on offer.

The choice is yours. If it is €15 (books) or anywhere from €145 to €495 for one of my artworks, or for my latest sculpture Wisdom (€1500) Or add your own amount. I am grateful to all the support !


This is how it works:

• Go to my :Fund:it page 
• Click on the large :FUND:IT button, which bring to a page to 'sign in' with your email address.
• Choose one of the 'rewards' on offer, or scroll down the define your own amount (for this there is no reward in return).
• It will then ask for your payment details.
• The money will only be deducted IF I HAVE REACHED THE TARGET, in the allotted 35 days.
• If I have been successful, the reward you pledged for will be delivered to you, or will be ready for collection.
• Many many thanks

A 'selfie' by Sarah. Outside RTE buildings

AND...  I was invited to do a radio interview with Sean O'Rourke as a result of the article that appeared in the Journal. I shared the interview with Sarah Meehan.

You can listen to it here

Many thanks to Brendan Holmes, Jennifer Wade -  Journal.ie,  Sian O'Gorman - researcher RTE,  Sean O'Rourke - RTE and Declan Carroll from IMET (Irish ME Trust) for making this happen. And Sarah for sharing this interesting experience!

And thank you ALL!

My deepest gratitude to have you always by my side, even if that means in cyberspace!

This project has been supported by

The 12th June saw the start of a Crowd Funding Campaign to publish my next book 'Into the Light'. 
See FUND IT  or my WEBPAGE for more.

No life with M.E.? There is!

Living in the darkness of illness, my creativity had brought me out into the light.

Today an article was published in the Journal.ie about my creative life with M.E.

"I was led to believe there was ‘no future’ with with my diagnosis. Well, I beg to differ."

"I have learned to cope with M.E., a serious and potentially disabling chronic disorder, through art and creativity."

see full article here 

sample page of Into the Light © Corina Duyn 2015

sample page of Into the Light © Corina Duyn 2015

 I now have an Artist/Author Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CorinaDuyn Please link up with me there? And if you think this Blog deserves to make a presence on Facebook or Twitter, feel free to link it on your page. Thank you!

M.E. Awareness month

May is M.E. Awareness month.

These articles appeared in this week's local papers - The Avondhu Press and Dungarvan Observer - mapping my journey through the illness and the role creativity played in learning to live with it.

I will add a transcript of these articles at a later date.

If you are interested in re-printing this, please do get in touch  

Avondhu Press 28-05- 2015

Dungarvan Observer 27-05- 2015

I now have an Artist/Author Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CorinaDuyn Please link up with me there? And if you think this Blog deserves to make a presence on Facebook or Twitter, feel free to link it on your page. Thank you!

Marriage Equality Referendum

Historic day as final results in Marriage Equality Referendum declared soon

... Ireland is set to become the first country in the world to legislate for marriage equality through popular vote on what is shaping up to be a historic day..

See more about this to be a VERY HISTORIC DAY for Ireland indeed! here Marriage Equality

I now have an Artist/Author Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CorinaDuyn 

Please link up with me there? And if you think this Blog deserves to make a presence on Facebook or Twitter, feel free to link it on your page. Thank you!

New life in my garden

Spring,

Glorious Spring.

(although the past few days it is more like winter...)

I enjoy watching new life sprouting up in my greenhouse. Lettuces, tomatoes, beans...

Various birds building nest in the nest boxes and in the wall.

Dandelion seeds. I know. Regarded as a weed. But look at the beauty!

The delicateness of the apple blossom...

Here just a few snapshots from the past few weeks.

Some of these images will be illustrations in Into the Light. My Artist Book in the making.

French Bean sprouting © Corina Duyn 2015

Blue tit gathering twigs for it's nest, a box in my garden. © Corina Duyn 2015

Dandelion seeds, look at the free floating one at the bottom! © Corina Duyn 2015

Apple Blossom © Corina Duyn 2015

Apple Blossom © Corina Duyn 2015

I now have an Artist/Author Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CorinaDuyn Please link up with me there? And if you think this Blog deserves to make a presence on Facebook or Twitter, feel free to link it on your page. Thank you!

Into the Light - an adventure basking in kindness

Well it has been quite a while since I turned up on my blog. But, I have been busy with my Into the Light Artist book project. And some journey it has been.

The artist book will consists of a series of sheets, with on one side an image (art or nature) and quote by another writer; on the reverse an observation about living with chronic illness. This could be about daily reality, gratitude, art, society, independence, nature, stillness... All gathered in a box. More about this some other day!

Both sides of a sample sheet of Into the Light © Corina Duyn 2015

There is a awful lot more involved than just writing. There is also reading, note taking, finding the right quote, finding the right image, and that is all before editing and designing - and redesigning- and  more editing and fine tuning the pages. Box design... how to promote, where to launch...

Every time I think I have it all worked out another question arises... The latest being:

How to ask for permission to use quotes by other writers?

Will there be any cost involved?

Do I need permission when it is a limited edition artist book?

As it turned out yes you do need permission, even if it is just one line.
And rightly so. I would like to be asked too, if someone likes to use my writing!

A big adventure started by contacting many authors and publishers. I was fearful of huge costs, and lengthy waits. To my absolute delight, so far everybody who has replied to my request has given me permission, free of charge. My heartfelt thanks to everybody. 

And not only that, the goodwill towards my project is going way beyond that.  I received some amazing responses and encouragement from people I have never met, and probably never will.

Both sides of a sample sheet of Into the Light © Corina Duyn 2015

This into the light project is really that.  It is not just bringing the topic of the experience of living with chronic illness into the light, but in a beautiful way, I myself am reaching into the light, making contact with authors and artists I have admired for so long. Making contact with people all over the world.

When I started this project I found myself in a darker place.  My condition had deteriorated. I was more challenged again in my mobility, independence, and in my creative work.

Finding a way to do what I felt I needed to do is a huge blessing. I do not underestimate the power of art. The creative process.  Creativity is a lifeline.  It brings understanding. I learn. And I can share.

What a privilege.

The other forms of support have been to aid me in practical ways to my work.  Some of this has been supported through the rehab bursary. Friends have helped me with computer work; local graphic designer Dave Murphy,  has helped me to design the pages; friends are reading to spot any errors; staff at the IWA has helped me with my sculptures. Staff at Dechen Shying have been nurturing. The book most likely will be launched there first (September?).
Working with my mentor Grace Wells, has been absolutely invaluable. An acquaintance from years back, is supporting me to launch a crowd funding adventure and all other social media that comes with that. I have also been awarded a small publishing grant from Waterford City & Council Arts.

 I feel hugely privileged to have all the support.

 Thank you all!  My deepest gratitude.

The book is not finished yet, but it getting close.

Please come back for updates, or sign up for email notices.

An Author/Artist Facebook has created for me. Please 'like' it.

If you would like to support me, any proceeds from artwork or books sold will go towards the publication cost of Into the Light.


With every best wish

Corina

this project has been supported by

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