Upcoming chats, writing workshops, events and more...

Hi Dear Writers,

I hope everyone is having a good summer.

Our family are building a cabin in the forest on the beautiful island of Vinalhaven, in Maine. We are in our third year and the process has been an experience of a life-time. (Also, blood, dirt, sweat and loud sobbing... mine) The speed is dictated by my son's work. He went from wooden boat building to building the cabin and (with his uncle Jimmy and builder, Buddha Mark) carved the timber frame, old school, with a chisel and hammer. There isn't a nail in the frame. He has 'added on' to the frame twice, once going up another floor to capture the sea view, and once to add on the back for more living space, so the 'cabin' is becoming a ship-like cathedral mix.

This summer I feel like Ma Ingalls with the washing in tubs in the forest, the waiting for the sun to shine to get solar power to get wifi, and the outdoor 'tilted throne'. I will NEVER take water for granted again. We gathered and filled gallon jugs from a spring well all summer. But our own well is now drilled! So pumped water (a tap) is coming soon. The joys!

There is a 'finishing' vibe, although there's also an understanding that the work here is a lifetime of work. But still, having a fully off-grid home with diverse trees, completely surrounded by nature, is the dream. There's been ups and downs but as I see it shaping up, I can't help but fall in love with the place and our crew, over and over.

The Power of the Prompt is receiving great feedback and I have more summer dates to announce.

This Wednesday at 12pm US time, 7AM Irish time I'll be on-line with memoirist, author and friend Sherry Sidoti to chat The Power of the Prompt, writing workshops and building community. Please join us here. Free.

https://www.sherrysidoti.com/event-details/author-book-talk-the-power-of-the-prompt-with-lara-obrien

On August 19th Thursday I'll be giving a mini-workshop and book talk at the Vinalhaven Library.

On August 23rd we write at the Tidewater for a 3 hour workshop, that will be a great workshop if you can make it to Maine, or Vinalhaven. Email for more details

Cost is $60.

Then onwards to Ireland, and home to Howth. We start our Friday morning sessions on October 2nd at 10am

12 Church Street. Please revolut EURO 250 (for the 6 weeks until November 6th.)

We will be writing new life stories and developing stories for presentation and storytelling. Always a fun, collaborative, and encouraging workshop.

We have an amazing week workshop October 28th-31st for the Samhain Festival.

Four mornings, writing to prompts and discovering our life stories with the weave and roots of Samhain. We will be writing in HOWTH CASTLE, with lots of walks, talks, and fun activities to explore. Email for more details. EURO 400.

Ending in our famous Hooks and Reels with local stories and musican Martello.

Tickets available at Eventbrite Hooks and Reels.

Hope to see as many of you as possible, write on, stay kind and curious, and keep telling those stories, we need them!

Grá Mór

Lara