Carmen Cullen to launch novel ‘Hello Love’
LOCAL writer Carmen Cullen will be launching her new novel Hello Love in the Mermaid Theatre, Bray on Tuesday, November 14 at 7.00pm.
All are invited to attend. The launch will be performed by Minister Simon Harris and is part of the Yarn Festival in The Mermaid.
This is Carmen’s second novel and it promises to be a treat. Like her first novel, it explores the effect of family on a writer’s life, in this case, the death of her mother.
Four-year-old Jacqueline Clancy has a happy existence until one day she wakens up and discovers her mother Imelda has disappeared.
Soon she believes that Imelda has got lost and is waiting to be found.
She pushes away from her the reality that her mother might be gone forever. She finds she has the freedom of Tooradula the town where she lives and the family’s own Avalon Hotel. Her auntie Mina comes to take Imelda’s place but Jacqueline will not accept her presence.
Seen through the eye of a five year old the story skilfully and poetically explores the small girl’s dilemma.
In the end life takes over, her father Teddy marries again and she has to believe her mother will be an invisible presence in her new life from now on.
In part two of the novel Jacqueline is 40 and her husband Vaughan has left her for a younger woman. Once again she is faced with a loss of love. Her lodger Pat however has different ideas. Carmen was head of English in Colaiste Dhulaigh, Coolock for over 20 years. She was Director of the Oscar Wilde Autumn School in Bray for several years afterwards.
She is a founder member and treasurer of Bray Arts and is actively involved in the arts in Bray. She has published three books of poetry and Class Acts, drama for schools.
Her first novel Two Sisters Singing is loosely based on her aunt, the singer Delia Murphy.
Carmen has been touring with her show Hello Delia Murphy, telling the story and singing the songs of her aunt Delia since 2009. She is accompanied by Ashford Musician Gerry Anderson.
Hello Love is the second novel in a trilogy. It will be available in Dubray Books, Amazon and all good book stores. Published by Liberties Press.