Books Published

These heart-warming, atmospheric stories have a folklore quality that taps into an ancient Irish tradition of oral storytelling. A set of interlinked tales, they carry the charm and appeal of a bygone age, of an otherworldly place, and conjure up a universe that is both ancient and familiar to us in which the characters of The Kingdom wind their way in and out of each other’s lives.

- Bernie McGill, Author of The Butterfly Cabinet, 2014, Sleepwalkers, 2014, The Watch House, 2017, This train is for…, 2022.

The themes and characters in these carefully crafted tales are instantly recognisable. Maybury’s inhabitants collide, connect and conspire in this glorious exploration of life, love and loss. Utterly enchanting, these relationships remind us of the value of community, inspiring curiosity, awareness and ultimately - hope.

- Cathy Carson, writer, poet and performer for theatre, television and radio, shortlisted in 2022 for the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Performer.

The twenty interwoven stories of New Asgarth are set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where the remains of humanity dwell in domed cities, where society struggles to adjust. And yet even in those darkest times, Mary Farrell shows us that hope, love, and a sense of community can blossom. With a profound insight into what makes us human, she re-frames post-apocalyptic conventions by focusing less on inherent dangers and violence and more on the fragile sparks of human connection which have the capacity to change our lives. Her engaging and accessible style, unique and powerful insight into the human condition, and the overarching theme of community inspire us to try and find common ground in our own progressively divided society

- Dr Sveto Manev, speculative fiction writer, freelance editor, and co-founder of Ulster University's annual journal of creative writing, The Paperclip.

A deceptively innocent collection with an anti-patriarchal undercurrent. Writing which lures you into conspiracy, yet leaves you smiling.

- Sue Divin, Author of Guard Your Heart, 2021, & Truth Be Told,2022, both by Macmillan

…poems and stories rich with passion, invention and a wry dark humour, Mary Farrell explores the joys and the disappointments of life…

- Kathleen McCracken, past Lecturer in English and Creative Writing at Ulster University, and author of seven Collections of poetry.

The stories are inventive, interconnected, and always surprising. As readers, we get to walk in the shoes of her characters, to listen in on their thoughts

- Dr Frank Sewell, Writer and Translator, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing and Irish Literature in English at Ulster University, Northern Ireland.

An elegant collection of poems and prose. The variety of genres and techniques can be adapted by Facilitators everywhere to use as stimuli in their own Creative Writing classes

- Maureen Dunseath, Facilitator of the Foyle u3a Creative Writing Group

Stories and poems, such as these Collections of Mary Farrell, provide an invaluable resource for storytelling groups and a useful aid for promoting thinking, discussion and writing. Ranging from the familiar and the heart-rending to the imaginative and the fantastical, they demonstrate a wide variety of writing techniques, including personal experience, shared writing and a very effective quirky use of hyphenated adjectives. Each piece lends itself well not only to being read aloud but gives encouragement to those with a story to share. The "connectivity of humanity" runs through this book’

- Christine Turner, Freelance Educator teaching about diversity and inclusion, Storyteller with the Causeway Yarnspinners in Northern Ireland

Springboards by Mary Farrell is a useful text for beginning writers, those with writer’s block, writers in need of a push, and creative writing facilitators. The road-tested and roadworthy prompts provided in this manual are carefully selected from the author’s own experience of supervising and attending writing workshops

- Dr Frank Sewell, Writer and Translator, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing and Irish Literature in English at Ulster University, Northern Ireland.

Here is a wonderful source, brimming with ideas for individuals, groups and facilitators. Anyone searching for a new approach or wishing to try out new techniques will find inspiration in this cornucopia of prompts and exercises.

-Kate Murphy, Amherst Writers and Artists Trained Facilitator, Co-Ordinator of Portrush Writers Group