Hi everyone
Earlier this year, Adrian Millar contacted me and asked me to write a story for his forthcoming charity anthology The Beauty of Everyday Life.
I was more than happy to support this book as it is in aid of Teenline, a charity that does trojan work, and deserves all of our help. They provide a freephone service for young people feeling distressed, worried or anxious.
And I’m in very good company with 40 Irish stars who have written something, including Joe Duffy, Mary Kennedy, Bressie, Luka Bloom, Sinead Moriarty, Maria Duffy, Caroline Finnerty to name but a few.
My story called ‘Breathing in the beauty of the day’ is a piece of flash fiction, centred around Tom Ellis. Tom’s character was inspired by my own father – Michael O’Grady. I remarked to Daddy once, that I’d never seen him unshaven in my memory. No matter how late the night before might have been (and believe me there have been many late nights! haha!), he would always dress and wash before he contemplated breakfast.
I think in all of my years, I can only remember him having a PJ day once. And that was following surgery when he was recuperating!
Daddy said to me that he likes to be ready to face the world as soon as he gets up, because he never knows what the day has in store for him. As I write this, right now, I know he’d be tutting his head at the state of me! I have to admit that the H’s do partake in PJ days quite a bit.
Well, dad’s philosophy inspired Tom’s character in my piece of flash fiction.
I thought I’d share the very first paragraph, just to give you a taster… To read the rest you have to buy the book!
Remember all proceeds go to Teenline and you can order a copy of this anthology here
Tom Ellis moves at a slower pace these days.He pauses and thinks for a moment.When exactly did old age catch up with him? He looks in his bathroom mirror, assessing himself with a critical eye. A shock of white hair frames his heavily lined face and eyes once denim blue are now faded to a pale grey.He raises his hand to his head and salutes old age – a crafty bugger, in truth a worthy adversary who works hard every day to slow him down – silently swooping in to make creaking bones groan and crack in protest and pain.
‘I may have lost the battle, but the war is not over yet!’ Tom declares defiantly to his image in the mirror.
Then chuckling at himself, he begins the ritual of shaving and washing.
I would really appreciate any shares/rt’s of this, to help spread the word. We’d love to get some support, so we can get books sold and ultimately a decent donation to Teenline.
With thanks always
Carmel x
Here is the the official press release, with details of all authors who are included in the anthology:-
The Beauty Of Everyday Life is a book of stories written by Irish people who have, over the years, shone a light in our lives through their words and deeds, and who have inspired us or entertained us. The stories are compiled and edited by Adrian Millar, a stay-at-home dad and former author of “Dad’s World”, a weekly stay-at-home dad column in The Irish Examiner. All royalties from the book go to Teen-Line Ireland, a registered charity which provides a national, free-phone, non-directive helpline service for teenagers who may be feeling alone, worried or distressed. The Teen-Line helpline number is 1800 833 634 and the line is open seven days a week from 8pm to 11pm and on Wednesdays from 4pm to 11pm.
Contributors to the book include
RTE presenter Joe Duffy
Mother of formerly conjoined twins, Angie Benhaffaf
Gerry Adams T.D.
Grand National and Gold Cup winner, Barry Geraghty
Singer Frances Black
Judge of RTE’s The Voice, Niall Breslin (Bressie)
Under-16 World Kick-boxing champion Niall Carroll
Social media expert Paul Dunphy
Singer song-writer Luka Bloom (Barry Moore)
Poet and novelist Ann Egan
Best-selling novelist Caroline Finnerty
Best-selling novelist Maria Duffy
Kerry footballer Paul Galvin
Presenter of RTE’s Nationwide, Mary Kennedy
Philosopher and writer Peter Hannan SJ
2013 Romantic Book of The Year winner Carmel Harrington
Star of film, television and stage, Belfast-born actor Geraldine Hughes
World Athletics’ gold-medallist Rob Heffernan
Writer, poet and Kerry business woman Imelda McGrattan
Singer and song-writer Gabrielle Louise
Champion of the homeless, Peter McVerry SJ
Best-selling novelist Roisin Meaney
Composer and performer specializing in sacred music, Fr. Liam Lawton
Adrian Millar, author of The Beauty Of Everyday Life and formerly a columnist with The Irish Examiner
Singer and songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson, aka SOAK
Best-selling author Sinead Moriarty
Cork GAA hurling goal-keeper Anthony Nash
Colm O’ Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International, Ireland.
Singer Maura O’ Connell
Ireland rugby player Donncha O Callaghan
Mindfulness teacher andd psychotherapist Padraig O’ Morain
Award-winning author and playwright Martina Reilly
Author, comedian and broadcaster Colm O’ Regan
Writer and journalist Anne Marie Scanlon
Writer and producer of TV shows for RTE and CBBC, Colm Tobin
Renowned artist and poet Lorcan Walshe
Inspiration for the book
In ancient Greece, philosophers saw reality as comprising three dimensions: the good, the truth, and the beautiful. In modern life, the beautiful is the most neglected of these.
This book helps redress this imbalance.
It is the beautiful – love, fun, humour, appreciation, leisure, connection, intimacy, warmth, joy, pleasure, friendship, family, music, imagination, exercise, conversation, play – that gets us through in tough times as well as in good.
The stories in The Beauty Of Everyday Life capture this wonderfully. They will make you cry, laugh and reflect, but above all else they will remind you of the beauty of your own everyday life and inspire you to live it ever more fully.
Book Launch
The Beauty Of Everyday Life will be launched on November 16th, 4pm, at the Westgrove Hotel, Clane, Co. Kildare. The press are very welcome to attend the launch. Many of the contributors will be there.
You can find out more about The Beauty Of Everyday Life at www.facebook.com/thebeautyofeverydaylife, at www.adrianmillar.ie, and on Twitter @AdrianMillar.
Adrian Millar can be contacted for interviews at 087-2448555 and at adrianmillar@gmail.com.
