A round up of 2012...

It's nearly over for another year, I seem to have let the side down on the aul blogging this year. A lot of excellent things happened to me in 2012, here's hoping that 2013 will be even better. The biggest highlight was getting a new job, which let me have more free time for personal projects. With all this free time I decided to volunteer my services:

First up was Darklight Film Festival, Irelands premier festival celebrating independent film and animation. It took place over the weekend of 23rd August. One of the highlights for me was Seamus McGarvey in Conversation with Kieron J.  Walsh what a talented and hilariously funny guy. It was so interesting to hear him speak about his career and techniques. My favourite film of the weekend was definitely Indie Game the Movie, a documentary about creating indie games. I met some great people over the weekend, definitely worth volunteering my services.

Next up was Mountains to Sea DLR Book festival, which took place from 4th-9th September. I worked at many events including Des Bishop & Tom Inglis (in the Maritime Museum) and Joseph O'Connor & Jonathan Dee (in the Pavilion Theatre), which I found really interesting. But the highlights for me were the family events. I worked with the fabulous illustrator and writer Sarah McIntyre on a comic book making workshop and the Picture Book Picnics (also with Irish illustrator Chris Judge). Sarah describes her adventures at Mountains to Sea on her blog here (which sums up the events better than I could!), where she also wrote the nicest things about me (below)! It was such a great programme of events, if you have never been, you should pencil it in for 2013.

Then in November I volunteered at The Ark, which is a cultural centre for children. The Telling Tall & Tiny Tales Experience ran for the month of November, where I was an invigilator. There were lots of workshops and an exhibition of Irish picture book artists. I hope to continue to work with The Ark over the coming year at their many events.

That's it for now, all the best for 2013!