By Michelle Crawley
LOCAL children’s author, Dolores Keaveney will be launching ‘The Scary Spider’, her eighth children’s book, this forthcoming Thursday, 30 October at the Atrium, County Buildings in Mullingar.
Speaking to Topic this week, Dolores explained that the inspiration for her brand new book came one day when she spotted a rather big spider on her kitchen window. We all rushed over to watch it and my sister Chris – a keen amateur photographer – took her camera out and captured the moment. Almost immediately the little story started forming in my head and when I had a few minutes to myself later, I jotted it down. I was working on my last two books ‘Meet the fairies in my back yard’ and ‘The Adventures of Jenny, Sylvester and their six little chicks,’ at the time so The Scary Spider had to wait her turn!
In Spring of last year, Dolores finally got the chance to start working on the illustrations for the spider inspired story and whilst Dolores says it has taken a fair bit of time to get the book ready for all the young boys and girls, she is really excited to read it for children on the night. Although not intentional, Dolores’ book does contain some scary Halloween characters – a spider and a pumpkin. “As a mother and grandmother I know Halloween can be a scary time for small children and spiders and spiders’ webs are a big part of that. I hope this “not so scary” spider story will help the smaller children overcome their fears or better still not develop any in the first place,” she said.
CHILDREN’S STORIES
‘A Scary Spider’ follows seven wonderful books written, illustrated and self-published since 2009 by this talented Mullingar writer. “I have been painting for the past forty years and was very active in the painting scene as a member of the Lakeland Art Group, then in 2009, after a short step away from the art scene, I woke up one night with a poem in my head. I jotted it down and from there my first book ‘If I were a Bee’ was born. Following the popularity and success of ‘If I were a Bee’, Dolores brought readers another exciting children’s story ‘Jenny the little brown hen’ which was later translated into Gaeilge ‘Jenny an chearc bheag dhonn’.
In the years that have followed, Dolores has released ‘Earth Angels are Everywhere; are you one?, ‘Beelicious Recipes with Honey’ (a recipe book for children), ‘The Advenutres of Jenny Sylvester and their six little chicks’, and more recently ‘Meet the Fairies in my Backyard’. Some of Dolores’ books are used in primary schools across the country as well as stocked in libraries nationwide. In addition to this, two of her books have had reprints and four have been on CBI’s recommended reading list.
STORY-TELLING
Dolores has been very busy as of late story-telling at as many as 19 book festivals and library events all over the midlands in the past month. “I have been very busy but I love it. I really appreciate getting the chance to do story-telling in libraries across the midlands. Dolores has also put in an art and writing studio in her home at Belvedere and is very appreciative to Westmeath Community Development for helping to source funding for the project.
So what does the future hold for Dolores Keaveney? “I plan to continue creating children’s picture books. I already have several more “Jenny stories” in the pipeline. I am also working on my first children’s novel for 7 to 10 year olds which I hope to launch next year. I have also been lucky enough to work with a new Irish children’s author to illustrate her first book which will be launched in the near future. Apart from my books I hope to continue to secure more licensing contracts for my art”.
LAUNCH & EXHIBITION
‘A Scary Spider’ will be launched by well-known writer and documentary maker, Manchan Magan, this forthcoming Thursday, 30 October, at 5.30 p.m. in The Atrium of the County Buildings and to make this launch extra special, Dolores will personally read the story to children and adults alike. Dolores is encouraging all children to come to the event in their favourite Halloween costumes for what she hopes will be a fun family event!
The book launch will coincide with the launch of a very special Art Exhibition that will run in the Atrium showcasing some of the original art work of all eight of Dolores’ picture books. “The full content of the art Exhibition is going to be a surprise!” explains Dolores. “If you want to know more you’ll need to come and see it for yourself”, she said enthusiastically. Speaking ahead of the launch, Dolores was full of praise and thanks to Westmeath County Council who have allowed her to use the Atrium for the launch and mini-exhibition.
A Scary Spider will be available to buy at local bookshops as well as on her own website www. doloreskeaveney.com.
