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Joe Kennedy, 1936-2022

Patrick James Joe Kennedy will be a new name to most. Perhaps those from Co. Mayo, Manchester (UK), Michigan or elsewhere in the US and the Middle East might know of J. Kennedy & Co Ltd., the firm that Joe started after he emigrated from Eire aged just 16. Ever supportive of his fellow Irish immigrants, his philanthropy blossomed with his business into the Kennedy Charitable Foundation, work that would be recognized by Pope John Paul II (Order of the Knights of St. Gregory), the Manchester Mayo Association, and the Virginia Gallagher Mayo Person of the Year Award. A remarkable feat for this gregarious but unassuming man of faith, both in God and his fellow man.

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New Column New Non-Fiction Other Stuff

Shoreline of Infinity 6

With all this end of year nonsense, I’d clean forgotten to post about my latest column for Shoreline of Infinity. S0 here’s a belated bump for it.

shoreline-issue-6-cover-1000w-194x300

This one is called ‘Noise and Sparks: Interlude‘ – and it is, in a way. ‘Interlude’ reflects on the change of the seasons, and thoughts this provokes as we hurtle inexorably towards the year’s end.

Also in this issue, you’ll find stories by Bo Balder, Hannah Lackoff, Victoria Zelvin, Katy Lennon, Russell Jones and many more. There’s an interview with Steven Palmer, and a review of Empire Games by Charles Stross – which makes a great preview for his upcoming appearance at Shoreline’s next Event Horizon showcase in February. Chris Kelso gives a glowing review to Thirty Years of Rain, the Glasgow SF Writers Circle anthology which features my poem ‘Picture, of a Winter Afternoon.’ Additionally, this issue boasts the first of a new cover series by Stephen Pickering. So it’s well worth a look, I reckon. Click here to pick it up from the Shoreline website.

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Other Stuff Ruth Runs

Ruth Runs: The Great Scottish Run 2 – Run Harder

I’d been wondering why everyone was taking so long. As the crowd moved, the full length of St Vincent Street appeared ahead, from the tickertape starting line to, at its far end, a startlingly abrupt 30 degree slope — the kind of horrific steepness that, as a kid, your Mum would tell you off for biking down without your brakes on. My impatience vanished, leaving a single thought: “how the hell am I getting through this?”

So, of course, I’m doing it again on Sunday 2nd October, tackling the Great Scottish Run to raise funds for SAMH (the Scottish Association for Mental Health).

SAMH Shirt

The theme of this run is Sabotage. It’s been a tough year. My health hasn’t been great — I’ve lost three months of training to injury — a broken toe and a twisted ankle. Life issues have proved difficult to deal with, and that’s impacted on my well-being and my creativity. At times, it’s been overwhelming. Whether physical or mental — Beastie Boys or Cancer Bats — Sabotage has dogged my every step this year.

But I’m still here. More than that — I’m in Glasgow, living amongst good friends, studying a fascinating course in Fantasy, and beginning to find my own way in the world.

So what better way to celebrate that than running 13 miles through one of the hilliest cities in the country — and raising money for charity to boot?

So why SAMH? SAMH support those living in Scotland with mental health issues, as well as their families and carers. There are community-based programmes for everything from housing to addiction. They run the national anti-stigma campaign See Me, and the anti-bullying campaign Respect Me. They also provide employment support, as well as a host of information and advice. Whether you’re a student looking for a bit of extra support as you make this massive life change, or a carer looking after a someone with a mental health condition, this is the place to go.

If you’d like to help me support SAMH and their excellent work, please head to the link below to sponsor my run.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RuthRuns-GSR2

Alternatively, if you can’t afford a donation, why not leave me a little encouragement on the Great Wall of Support?

http://greatscottishrun.com/wall-of-support/

Finally, if you want to watch, why not check out BBC2 Scotland‘s coverage on Sunday 2nd October from 11:00 – 13:45?

I’ll see you at the finish line!

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Awards Conventions Fantasycon Other Stuff Photography

Drowned In Sound, British Fantasy Awards and Satellite 5

It’s occurred to me that there were a couple of things missing off the blog from the other week. So now the smoke’s cleared a bit from Satellite 5, here’s a little extra news for you.

One!

Firstly – new photos! Drowned In Sound have uploaded a selection of my shots from Emma Pollock‘s recent gig at the O2 Academy’s upstairs room the other week. If you’ve not heard any of her work post-Delgados, new record In Search of Harperfield really is a gem. Meantime, there’s a link to the photos below.

Emma Pollock (w/ heartsetonhope and The Artisans)
12th May 2016, O2 Academy Newcastle

http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4150072-in-photos–emma-pollock-newcastle-academy
Emma Pollock - O2 Academy Newcastle, 12th May 2016

Two!!

Secondly, the juries for this year’s British Fantasy Awards have been announced. For the first time, I’ll be joining the panel judging the Non-Fiction Award, completed by Martin Petto and Kev McVeigh. We’ve already had some interesting discussions, and I think I can speak for my fellow jury members in saying we’re looking forward to getting stuck in to the final shortlist. The winners will be announced at this year’s Fantasycon By the Sea, held by the British Fantasy Society over the weekend of 23rd – 25th September in Scarborough.

And, finally…

Three!!!

While I’m here, I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who made it along to the readings on Saturday night at last weekend’s Satellite 5 convention in Glasgow – as well as all those who had a hand in a splendid con. Many thanks also to Helen Sansum for this lovely photo, taken in the mid-way through a story about stories…

Ruth Booth - taken at Satellite 5 by Helen Sansum

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Other Stuff Ruth Runs

Ruth Runs: GSR 2015 – A Huge Thank You

I ran a half-marathon on Sunday. And I have you to thank for it.

There I was, waiting in the Pink Wave, watching those in front crossing the starting line, and wondering why so many of them were just walking across it, instead of running, and getting on their way. Then I looked ahead, up St Vincent Street. Way, way up…

Quite along way up...

So thank goodness for you lot.