Notebook

Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show book trailer


Posted by Frank's Team on March 9, 2010 at 03:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show

Today, 23 February 2010, Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show is published – my fourth novel and fifth book since 2005 (including the non-fiction, Simple Courage).  So far the reviews have been pleasingly good, but of course they don’t tell what I alone know – why the book came to be written.

It’s a rite of passage, told in the more-or-less intimate tone of an eighteen-year-old young Irishman, Ben MacCarthy.  In the year 1932, when Ben is eighteen, everything changes. His father, a jovial farmer, suddenly quits everything, and runs off with a beautiful young actress from a tacky group of traveling players.  Ben goes after him to bring him back.

The story sprang from three sources. First, I recalled a young man from my own past, a friend of mine, whom I won’t (and mustn’t) identify, and whom I watched as he dealt kindly and innocently with two extremely dysfunctional parents. And who then fell headlong in love with a woman many years older than him. For locations, the MacCarthy family house in the novel is modeled on a different farm - that stands about two miles from my childhood home.

Next, we had those raggedy traveling shows that lurched through our villages and towns, all flim-flam, Find-The-Lady card sharks, and drunken old actors, dripping with melodrama, who recited great speeches from Shakespeare (and often forgot the lines).

The third element comes from my own close-to-obsessive reading of mythologies from all over the world, and finding in them so many stories that I have seen being played out one way and another in my own life. Or the lives of people I know.

In terms of weight, Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show isn’t a soufflé - it’s more of a pot roast, or an Irish stew, with perhaps subtler flavors than you think you’re tasting. My brief to myself was this: Create a novel that takes the readers into a world they don’t know; those towns and villages were the stamping-grounds of my own young life. Add in the factual events of a great, boiling General Election, and thereby peel back a corner of the wild and sometimes rueful politics of an emergent western state. Have it played by energetic characters, and have them observed by a young man who wants to do only what is good, but may not be given the permission.

Note: Part of the technical challenge was to have the narrator - now a man obviously in his senior years given the time-line - reflect the events in the less mature tone of the boy he was at eighteen.

And all the time I was looking over my shoulder that the great myths that formed our civilization – from ancient Celtic Europe, from Scandinavia, from Greece. In this case, the Oedipus myth is almost too obvious, but I also wanted to stay with the Homeric and Scandinavian ideas of culture, no matter how low, penetrating remote areas.

Also, I wanted to tell a story that observed three things – the collisions possible when the outside world comes too close to a sealed world of tranquility and “ordinary” good behavior; how political upheavals frequently stick their fists into our personal lives; and the possibility that our journey through the world may once in a while conform in one way or another to the events portrayed in ancient myth.

That all seems to summarize the job I had to do when writing this book. The other fifty per cent of the creative effort – by which I mean the act of reading – is up to you!

Posted by Frank's Team on February 23, 2010 at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Frank Delaney's Tour Dates for 2010

March through May

MADISON, CT
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
7:00 PM
Reading, Talk & Signing
RJ Julia Booksellers
768 Boston Post Rd
Madison, CT 06443
Contact: Heather McDonald, 203-245-3959
GREENWICH, CT
Thursday, March 11, 2010
7:00 PM
Reading, Talk & Signing
Greenwich Library
101 West Putnam Ave.
Greenwich, CT 06830
Contact: Marianne Weill, 203-622-7933
WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT
Saturday, March 13, 2010
2:00 PM
Discussion and Signing
Hickory Stick Bookshop
2 Green Hill Rd.
Washington Depot, CT 06794
860-868-0525
NEW YORK CITY
Monday, March 15, 2010
7:00 PM
Reading, Talk & Signing
Borders
461 Park Ave
New York, NY 10022
Contact: Daryl Mattson, 212-823-9774
IRVINGTON, NY
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
7:00PM
Dinner, panel reading & signing with Gail Caldwell and Alex von Bidder
Spoken Interludes
Chutney Masala
4 West Main Street
Irvington, NY
More Information
DARIEN, CT
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
10:30 AM
Darien Community Association Book Group
Garden Wing
274 Middlesex Road,
Darien Ct 06820
MYSTIC, CT Saturday, March 27, 2010
5:30 PM
Reception, Reading, Talk & Signing
Bank Square Books
53 West Main Street
Mystic, CT 06355
Contact: Annie Philbrick, 860-536-3795
ALBANY, NY
Saturday, April 10, 2010
2:45 to 3:30pm Reading and discussion
NYLA's Empire State Book Festival
Empire Plaza
Empire State Plaza
Madison St
Albany, New York 1222
STORRS, CT
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Reading and discussion
Elizabeth Shanley Gerson Reading
University of Connecticut Storrs
Alumni House
University of Connecticut
2384 Alumni Drive
Storrs, CT 06269-0001
Contact: Mary Burke, mary.2.burke@uconn.edu
KENT, CT
Saturday, April 17, 2010, 4pm
Discussion with Diane Meier
Kent Memorial Library
32 North Main Street
Kent, CT 06757
860-927-3761
WASHINGTON CT
Saturday, May 8, 2010
4pm
Discussion with Diane Meier
Gunn Memorial Library
5 Wykeham Road
P. O. Box 1273
Washington, CT 06793
Contact: Jean Chapin, 860-868-7586
GunnLib@biblio.org
MORRISTOWN, NJ
Friday, May 14, 2010
11am
Author Luncheon
Junior League of Morristown
Location: Fiddler's Elbow Country Club
811 Rattlesnake Bridge Road
Bedminster Township, NJ
Contact: Betsy Hollo, 973-214-5282
bfhollo@optonline.net
NEW JERSEY
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
New Jersey Irish Businessmens' Group
Details to come
WASHINGTON, CT
June 5, 2010
6pm
Library Luminaries Event
Gunn Memorial Library
5 Wykeham Road
Washington, CT 06793

Late summer and beyond

SHARON, CT
Friday, August 6, 2010, 6-8 pm
Hotchkiss Library
10 Upper Main St.
Sharon CT
860-364-5041
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Master of Ceremonies
Literary Sojourn: Steamboat Springs' Festival of Authors
1289 Lincoln Ave
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Contact: Chris Painter, 970-367-4904
www.literarysojourn.org

Posted by Frank's Team on January 21, 2010 at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Delaney Lectures: Frank Delaney on Irish Literary Figures

In his series of four forty-minute talks, Frank Delaney examines three famous Irish writers, James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and finally revisiting a lecture created for the National Archive of the Library of Congress, ties it all together in an examination of the universal ways that oral storytelling became the written literature of Joyce, Yeats and Beckett – and every other literary culture in the world.



Frank-yeats
Presented by Litchfield County Writers Project at the University of Connecticut’s Torrington campus this past autumn, the lectures, designed to educate, inform and entertain both students and the general public, were met with an enthusiastic reception, reflecting Delaney’s gift, learned at the BBC, of never underestimating his audience’s intelligence, but always their knowledge.

“These three authors have been driving forces in the life of many writers, the lives of all Irish writers—and especially in mine,” says Delaney. “Their cultural significance is universal; but for me they have become almost personal—they certainly go beyond the mere fact of being Irish, and even of being a writer. I am delighted to have the chance to illuminate their gifts and to channel my passion about them to students and the general public alike.”



The Litchfield County Writers Project provides programs that celebrate the creative work of Litchfield County and support the academic aims of the University of Connecticut. “I am delighted to be staging these lectures for the Litchfield County Writers Project. The LCWP is a treasure that I found in my own backyard,” says Delaney. With its connection between the university and the talents for professional writing found, at the highest levels, in this Connecticut county, it forms a basis for both study and appreciation. To find so well-developed a link between the culture of writing, the scholarship of a respected university, and the presentation of literature to those who care about the condition of writing and reading is remarkable.”

To see the Delaney Lectures streamed in their entirety, go to the LCWP website and access the four lectures.

Posted by Frank's Team on December 15, 2009 at 02:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Frank Delaney at the American Irish Historical Society

On Monday, April 27th. Frank spoke to a rapt audience of old friends and new at the beautiful townhouse of the American Irish Historical Society.  A small reception was planned and prepared by legendary caterer, Andrea Giardino, and featured parsnip cakes, smoked trout on Irish brown bread, and classic, Irish scones with cream and jam.  Smooth shots of Irish whiskey fueled the crowd, who enjoyed one another’s company along with Frank’s stories of the value and importance of myth to his books, Ireland, Tipperary and now, Shannon.  

 DSC_1552 Frank on his way to the reception

DSC_1779The Fifth Avenue Townhouse of the American Irish Historical Society

DSC_1561 Frank and Uber-Caterer,  Andrea Giardino

DSC_1660 The audience gathers

DSC_1677 Frank at the podium

DSC_1748 Frank with Ann Lee, historian and author, Dr. J.Joseph Lee,  Cormac O'Malley of Ireland House, author, John Colapinto and artist Gerry Hovagimian.

DSC_1741 Book sales were brisk

DSC_1649 The interior of the townhouse lent itself to reflection and civil conviviality

All photos by David Goodwin

Posted by Frank's Team on April 29, 2009 at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Frank Delaney's Events/Tour for April and Beyond

April to June

LYNDHURST, OH
Thursday, April 16
7 pm
Reading/signing
Joseph-Beth Cleveland 
Legacy Village
24519 Cedar Road
Lyndhurst, OH 44124
(216) 691-7000
Contact: Calondra McArthur, 216-912-1985
MCARTHUR, OH
Saturday, April 18
4:00 PM
 Lecture
Herbert Wescoat Memorial Library
Spring Literary Festival
Contact: Trinity Ray,
1-800-225-4575 Ext. 1614
NEW YORK, NY
Monday, April 27
6:30 PM
Talk & Signing
American-Irish Historical Society
991 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
Contact: 212-288-2263
OMAHA, NE
Thursday, April 30
6:00 PM
Reading & Signing
Bookworm
Countryside Village Shopping Center
87th & Pacific Streets
8702 Pacific Street
Omaha, NE 68114
Contact: 212-288-2263
bookseller@bookwormomaha.com
Contact: Janet Grojan, 402-334-0722
OMAHA, NE
Friday, May 1
Lecture
University Of Nebraska
Details to follow
Contact: Nicole Morell
AEI Speakers Bureau,
617 782 3111 xt 117
CHICAGO, IL
Saturday, June 6
Printers Row Book Fair
Details to follow
BRYANT PARK, NY
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
12:30 pm
Talk/Discussion
Word for Word
Bryant Park, New York
Contact: Susie Sigel, 917-438-5151

Late summer and beyond

CENTRAL PARK, NY
Sunday, September 22, 2009
Reading/signing
New York is Book Country
Contact: Beth Werner, Kirkus Reviews
570-686-1214
MIAMI, FL
November 14-15, 2009
Miami Book Fair International
Contact: Penny Thurer, 305-237-3564
VILLANOVA
Spring 2010
Details to follow
Villanova University Literary Festival

Posted by Frank's Team on April 15, 2009 at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Frank on the Today Show: St. Patrick's Day Trivia

If you missed Frank on the Today Show on March 11, 2009, you can catch watch him here:

Frank Delaney on the Today Show.

Posted by Frank's Team on March 11, 2009 at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Frank Delaney on Today Show Wed. March 11

Frank is scheduled to appear on the Today Show this Wednesday morning, March 11,  in the 10am (EST) hour.  If you're not in Eastern Standard Time, check to see when the Kathie Lee and Hoda hour of Today airs in your time zone!

Posted by Frank's Team on March 9, 2009 at 06:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shannon book tour for March 2009

March

MILWAUKEE, WI
Monday, March 2
7.00 PM
Talk & Signing
Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop
4093 N Oakland Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211
CHICAGO, IL
Tuesday, March 3
7:30 PM
Talk & Signing
Borders
1 N. La Grange Rd
LaGrange, IL 60525
Store Manager: Jennifer Pierson, 708 579 9660
Contact: Kristen Sohacki, 630 574 0800 x580
CHICAGO, IL
Wed, March 4
12 PM
Talk & Signing
Chicago University Club
76 East Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
Contact: Mary Holloway, 312 696 2208
CHICAGO, IL
Wed, March 4
7:00 PM
Talk & Signing
The Book Stall Chestnut Court
811 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
Contact: Roberta Rubin, 847-446-8880
DALLAS, TX
Thursday, March 5
7:00 PM
 Dinner & Lecture
Dallas Womens Club
Details to follow
DALLAS, TX
Friday, March 6
6PM
Reading/book signing
North Texas Irish Festival
Quiet Man Pub
Inside the Embarcadero Building
(top of the brick steps and patio)
in Fair Park, Dallas
Contact: Betsy Cummins, 972-989-8148
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Saturday, March 7
2:00 PM
Talk & Signing
Bookcase Of Wayzata
607 East Lake Street
Wayzata, Minnesota 55391
Contact: Amber Bielenberg, 952 473 8341
WASHINGTON DC
Thursday, March 12
7:30 PM
Talk & Signing
Borders-Bailey's Crossroad
5871 Crossroads Center Way
Baileys Crossroads, VA 22041
Store manager: Mike Conway, 703 998 0404
Event manager: Christine Hilferty, 410 472 3715
MILLERTON, NY
Saturday, March 14
4:00 PM
Talk, Q&A, Signing
Oblong Books
26 Main St.
Millerton, NY
Contact: Suzanne Herman, 845 876 0500
Store number: 518 789 3797
NEW CAANAN, CT
Sunday, March 15
4:00 PM
Talk, Q&A, Signing
Elm Street Books W/ New Caanan Public Library
Address tk
Contact: Kathleen Millard, 203 966 4545
KANSAS CITY, MO
Thursday, March 19
12:00 PM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
Talk & Signing
Rotary Club Luncheon
Venue details to follow

Reception Sponsored by Rainy Day Books
Location: Kansas City Public Library (Plaza Branch)
4801 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
Library Ph: 816-701-3481
Contact: Vivien Jennings, Rainy Day Books 913 384 7605
PAWLING, NY
Saturday, March 28
1:00 PM
Talk, Q&A, Signing
Book Cove
22 Charles Colman Blvd.
Pawling, NY 12564
Contact: Teresa, 845-855-9590
BOSTON, MA
Tuesday, March 31
6:00 PM
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Contact: Michael Colford, 617-859-2389

Posted by Frank's Team on March 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Frank Delaney and Joe Donahue on WAMC

Frank talked with Joe Donahue on WAMC on the 18th of February.  You can listen to the interview by clicking this link to WAMC.

Posted by Frank's Team on February 26, 2009 at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)


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