Read and e-Book Week - a global celebration of the written word in digital format

Read and e-Book Week kicks off today and runs till Saturday, 9th March. This global celebration of the written word, in digital format, has been running every year since 2004. The twin aims are to encourage readers to give e-books a try and to give authors an opportunity to gain exposure of their work electronically. See the official website for more information about the background to this event.

A Woeful Tale is Derrick Cranpole's delightful collection of poems and illustrations that recall the trials and tribulation of Ireland's seafishermen and women: who daily battle with the elements and forces of nature on the high seas, not to mention bureaucracy and officialdom on land.

Charles, the Maiden and the Ogre is a modern day fairy tale by Sorcha Duggan which has been described as a mixture of 'Mark Twain like morals and clever Dublin-esque wit.'

I Want to Really Learn about Horses by T.J. Gillespie (aka Tom na gCapaillín) reflects a lifetime of experience working with horses - owning, training, breeding, managing - written in an easy-to-follow style with illustrations and diagrams throughout. Also peppered with stories and anecdotes that will delight any horse enthusiast.

John Toland: Ireland's Forgotten Philosopher, Scholar … and Heretic by J.N. Duggan is the story of a 18th century Donegal man who became a world renowned spokesman for the European Enlightenment; although his legacy is largely forgotten in his home country.

SiarScéal Anthology 2012: Roscommon in Reflection is a collection of poetry, prose, short stories about Roscommon, its unique culture and landscape. The anthology represents the cream of five years of submissions to the Hanna Greally Literary Awards, which takes place annually in March, in conjunction with the SiarScéal Festival in Roscommon. 

The Tobacco Fields of Meath is Liam Nevin's fascinating account of the Randlestown Experiment in Co. Meath at the turn of the 20th century. Read how local people tried to stem the tied of unemployment and consequent emigration, by introducing a crop few would have thought suitable for the Irish climate and soil.