Laurence Lumsden
@laurencewrites.com
Dubliner in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal). Writer. https://www.LaurenceWrites.com/. 2025 Cúirt New Writing Fiction Prize. Posts in English/Français/Svenska. (He/Him/YerMan)
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Laurence Lumsden
@laurencewrites.com
· Mar 11
New Writing Prize Winners 2025 - Cúirt International Festival of Literature
Cúirt International Festival of Literature – Galway City
www.cuirt.ie
Gobsmacked and grateful to have won the 2025 Cúirt New Writing Prize. Thanks to @cuirtfestival.bsky.social (see you in Galway!) and to the brilliant @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social (whose comments on my story left me floating on air). www.cuirt.ie/new-writing-...
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Received this text message from my father yesterday. Panicked that he had had a stroke, or similar.
Turns out it was my iPhone trying to transcribe the Irish language.
Turns out it was my iPhone trying to transcribe the Irish language.
February 5, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Received this text message from my father yesterday. Panicked that he had had a stroke, or similar.
Turns out it was my iPhone trying to transcribe the Irish language.
Turns out it was my iPhone trying to transcribe the Irish language.
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
#Rain is relentless in Dublin today – sheets of it! 🌧️
This Elizabeth Rivers print, ‘With #wind rain this journal opened…’ (c. 1947), feels like the perfect companion to the #storm. Explore it here: https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000041943
This Elizabeth Rivers print, ‘With #wind rain this journal opened…’ (c. 1947), feels like the perfect companion to the #storm. Explore it here: https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000041943
February 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#Rain is relentless in Dublin today – sheets of it! 🌧️
This Elizabeth Rivers print, ‘With #wind rain this journal opened…’ (c. 1947), feels like the perfect companion to the #storm. Explore it here: https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000041943
This Elizabeth Rivers print, ‘With #wind rain this journal opened…’ (c. 1947), feels like the perfect companion to the #storm. Explore it here: https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000041943
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Early stroll. The breeze’s deep breathing. Grey bins, full of the reforgotten. I pause to briefly become Rodin’s The Shoelace Tier. Old footprints in old concrete. The tiny poem of a ROAD CLOSED AHEAD sign.
February 5, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Early stroll. The breeze’s deep breathing. Grey bins, full of the reforgotten. I pause to briefly become Rodin’s The Shoelace Tier. Old footprints in old concrete. The tiny poem of a ROAD CLOSED AHEAD sign.
Writer's block? Write an entry in your diary about anything.
Serious writer's block? Write an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
Extreme writer's block? Write a BlueSky post about writing an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
#WritingCommunity
Serious writer's block? Write an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
Extreme writer's block? Write a BlueSky post about writing an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
#WritingCommunity
February 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Writer's block? Write an entry in your diary about anything.
Serious writer's block? Write an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
Extreme writer's block? Write a BlueSky post about writing an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
#WritingCommunity
Serious writer's block? Write an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
Extreme writer's block? Write a BlueSky post about writing an entry in your diary about serious writer's block.
#WritingCommunity
La nuit de la lecture commence maintenant en ligne lire-reussir.org/la-nuit-de-l...
📚 La Nuit de la lecture est de retour ce samedi pour une soirée gratuite en ligne et sur place. En entrevue, le co-porte-parole Patrick Sénécal est revenu sur cet évènement qui fait de la littérature « un grand mouvement collectif pendant quelques heures à travers tout le Québec. »
#entrevue
#entrevue
Entrevue | La Nuit de la lecture, ou quand la littérature devient un mouvement collectif | Entrevue | Magazine atuvu.ca
Entrevue | La Nuit de la lecture, ou quand la littérature devient un mouvement collectif - Entrevue - La 8e Nuit de la lecture se tiendra le 24 janvier 2026, en présentiel et en ligne, partout au Québ...
atuvu.ca
January 24, 2026 at 11:14 PM
La nuit de la lecture commence maintenant en ligne lire-reussir.org/la-nuit-de-l...
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
I #AmWriting an eco-lit book on bogs, #IronAge bog bodies, and preservation. So I am definitely 'singing' about heroic peatlands and the folks working to re-wet and restore them. February 2 is #WorldWetlandsDay!
Peatlands cover just 3% of land but store about twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests, making them unsung heroes in the battle against climate change.
@unep.org explains everything you should know about peatlands: www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
@unep.org explains everything you should know about peatlands: www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
January 21, 2026 at 1:52 PM
I #AmWriting an eco-lit book on bogs, #IronAge bog bodies, and preservation. So I am definitely 'singing' about heroic peatlands and the folks working to re-wet and restore them. February 2 is #WorldWetlandsDay!
Irish writers discussing their 2026 fiction debuts with Nadine O’Regan @nadineoregan.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Irish fiction debuts to look forward this year from Neil Tully, Ana Kinsella to Colin Morgan
‘I’m happy to say that rights have been optioned for TV’: A rich crop of fiction is set to emerge this year
www.irishtimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Irish writers discussing their 2026 fiction debuts with Nadine O’Regan @nadineoregan.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
The best fiction of 2026 to look forward to: Books from Louise Kennedy, Donal Ryan, Sebastian Barry, Maggie O’Farrell, Keith Ridgway, Danielle McLaughlin, Louise Nealon, Sarah Gilmartin, Patrick Freyne, Liz Nugent, Jan Carson, Tana French, Kathleen MacMahon & more
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
The best fiction of 2026 to look forward to: Books from Louise Kennedy, Donal Ryan, Sebastian Barry and more
A comprehensive round-up of fiction from Irish and international authors due out this year
www.irishtimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:04 AM
The best fiction of 2026 to look forward to: Books from Louise Kennedy, Donal Ryan, Sebastian Barry, Maggie O’Farrell, Keith Ridgway, Danielle McLaughlin, Louise Nealon, Sarah Gilmartin, Patrick Freyne, Liz Nugent, Jan Carson, Tana French, Kathleen MacMahon & more
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Random but putting it out there that if you need someone for a conference, panel, reading, podcast, etc., I’d be interested! I’ve been consumed by my day job and would love the chance to talk to people about writing 💕
January 16, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Random but putting it out there that if you need someone for a conference, panel, reading, podcast, etc., I’d be interested! I’ve been consumed by my day job and would love the chance to talk to people about writing 💕
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Will Europe finally choose between Europe and the US? The only thing that can protect us is federalism and a rupture — a real one — with Trump. With the side bonus that just maybe, it will rally Europeans against the far right and shock Americans into action
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Europe must now tell Trump that enough is enough – and cut all ties with the US | Alexander Hurst
How do you retain a space of democracy in a world that is reverting to violent conquest? By building a protective moat of federalism around it, says Paris-based Guardian writer Alexander Hurst
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Will Europe finally choose between Europe and the US? The only thing that can protect us is federalism and a rupture — a real one — with Trump. With the side bonus that just maybe, it will rally Europeans against the far right and shock Americans into action
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Kuei nuitsheuakanat !
Just finished my first term studying Innu and got an A+. Yay me!
Tshinashkumitin / merci à l'Institut Tshakapesh (great language resources), et à Gaëlle et Yvette à l'Université de Montréal.
www.tshakapesh.ca
centre-de-langues.umontreal.ca/cours-et-hor...
#innu-aimun
Just finished my first term studying Innu and got an A+. Yay me!
Tshinashkumitin / merci à l'Institut Tshakapesh (great language resources), et à Gaëlle et Yvette à l'Université de Montréal.
www.tshakapesh.ca
centre-de-langues.umontreal.ca/cours-et-hor...
#innu-aimun
January 13, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Kuei nuitsheuakanat !
Just finished my first term studying Innu and got an A+. Yay me!
Tshinashkumitin / merci à l'Institut Tshakapesh (great language resources), et à Gaëlle et Yvette à l'Université de Montréal.
www.tshakapesh.ca
centre-de-langues.umontreal.ca/cours-et-hor...
#innu-aimun
Just finished my first term studying Innu and got an A+. Yay me!
Tshinashkumitin / merci à l'Institut Tshakapesh (great language resources), et à Gaëlle et Yvette à l'Université de Montréal.
www.tshakapesh.ca
centre-de-langues.umontreal.ca/cours-et-hor...
#innu-aimun
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Yo!
I'll be in Paris tomorrow launching Ghost Mountain in French translation by Charles Roux. The launch is in L'Ecume des Pages at 7pm. I'll be interviewed by the wonderful Tim MacGabhann.
www.parislibrairies.fr/agenda-18792...
I'll be in Paris tomorrow launching Ghost Mountain in French translation by Charles Roux. The launch is in L'Ecume des Pages at 7pm. I'll be interviewed by the wonderful Tim MacGabhann.
www.parislibrairies.fr/agenda-18792...
www.parislibrairies.fr
January 13, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Yo!
I'll be in Paris tomorrow launching Ghost Mountain in French translation by Charles Roux. The launch is in L'Ecume des Pages at 7pm. I'll be interviewed by the wonderful Tim MacGabhann.
www.parislibrairies.fr/agenda-18792...
I'll be in Paris tomorrow launching Ghost Mountain in French translation by Charles Roux. The launch is in L'Ecume des Pages at 7pm. I'll be interviewed by the wonderful Tim MacGabhann.
www.parislibrairies.fr/agenda-18792...
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
"The revolutionaries are those who know when power is lying in the street and when they can pick it up."
- Hannah Arendt.
- Hannah Arendt.
January 11, 2026 at 12:10 PM
"The revolutionaries are those who know when power is lying in the street and when they can pick it up."
- Hannah Arendt.
- Hannah Arendt.
It's always fascinating to read about a writer's process. Here Sara Levine describes her background research, including her borrowings and pilferings from other writers. I suspect all writers do this—I do—but few talk about it so transparently. Refreshing and inspiring to read.
In research notes, Sara Levine writes about THE HITCH from Roxane Gay Books/@groveatlantic.bsky.social. necessaryfiction.com/researchnote...
January 10, 2026 at 10:33 PM
It's always fascinating to read about a writer's process. Here Sara Levine describes her background research, including her borrowings and pilferings from other writers. I suspect all writers do this—I do—but few talk about it so transparently. Refreshing and inspiring to read.
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
nice short stories you got there. would be a shame if someone suggests you turn one of them into a novel
January 9, 2026 at 4:48 PM
nice short stories you got there. would be a shame if someone suggests you turn one of them into a novel
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Happy New Year! New Substack post, with 3 questions for writers to contemplate at the start of the new year + 3 prompts for (strange) new fiction! Also a hopeful message for the new year! Hope you enjoy! Read here: joybaglio.substack.com/p/a-short-bu...
January 1, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Happy New Year! New Substack post, with 3 questions for writers to contemplate at the start of the new year + 3 prompts for (strange) new fiction! Also a hopeful message for the new year! Hope you enjoy! Read here: joybaglio.substack.com/p/a-short-bu...
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
You know that feeling when you've finally written the thing that's been dogging you for years, and you've nailed it? I want to bottle this feeling and sample it when I'm stuck or uninspired. This is what it's all for.
January 7, 2026 at 8:05 AM
You know that feeling when you've finally written the thing that's been dogging you for years, and you've nailed it? I want to bottle this feeling and sample it when I'm stuck or uninspired. This is what it's all for.
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
Today, January 6th, is the day on which James Joyce’s famous short story “The Dead” takes place! The story was adapted for film by John Huston, starring his daughter Angelica Huston, and was the final film of his career. A perfect watch or read as the weather continues to threaten snow! K.H
January 6, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Today, January 6th, is the day on which James Joyce’s famous short story “The Dead” takes place! The story was adapted for film by John Huston, starring his daughter Angelica Huston, and was the final film of his career. A perfect watch or read as the weather continues to threaten snow! K.H
“His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.” #Epiphany #TheDead #Dubliners www.rte.ie/radio/dramao...
The Dead by James Joyce
Performed by The RTÉ Rep
www.rte.ie
January 6, 2026 at 2:04 PM
“His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.” #Epiphany #TheDead #Dubliners www.rte.ie/radio/dramao...
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
If anyone wants to read along with me this year, am reading all of Hilary Mantel and Flannery O’Connor in chronological order (roughly 2 books per month) The reading order is up on my blog www.jancarson.co.uk and I’ll be using hashtags #MyYearWithFOC and #MyYearWithHM
January 4, 2026 at 10:47 PM
If anyone wants to read along with me this year, am reading all of Hilary Mantel and Flannery O’Connor in chronological order (roughly 2 books per month) The reading order is up on my blog www.jancarson.co.uk and I’ll be using hashtags #MyYearWithFOC and #MyYearWithHM
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
New blog post: an up-to-date list of Irish literary journals anneolearyblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/05/i...
Irish literary journals 2025/2026
By far the most-read post on this blog has been a very simple one – a list of Irish literary magazines. The original post I compiled in 2022, and an updated version in 2023, have clocked up o…
anneolearyblog.wordpress.com
October 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
New blog post: an up-to-date list of Irish literary journals anneolearyblog.wordpress.com/2025/10/05/i...
Surreal and unacceptable.
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life.
My interview with Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, who was sanctioned by the US for ruling to authorise an investigation into war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
My interview with Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, who was sanctioned by the US for ruling to authorise an investigation into war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Surreal and unacceptable.
Reposted by Laurence Lumsden
I've written a novel, Experts in a Dying Field. It's out on Penguin Sandycove in June. It's about about a band and a tragedy & art for art's sake & aging & loss & community & Dublin. There's a fox in it. & sheet music. The beautiful cover's by Jack Smyth. You can preorder: linktr.ee/expertsinady...
November 27, 2025 at 11:01 AM
I've written a novel, Experts in a Dying Field. It's out on Penguin Sandycove in June. It's about about a band and a tragedy & art for art's sake & aging & loss & community & Dublin. There's a fox in it. & sheet music. The beautiful cover's by Jack Smyth. You can preorder: linktr.ee/expertsinady...