Betimes Books is proud to announce the launch of The Red Orchestra in Blue, a powerful and timely new historical novel by acclaimed playwright, screenwriter, and director Joe O’Byrne. 📅 Date: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025🕡 Time: 6:30 PM📍 Venue: Goethe-Institut Irland, 37 Merrion Square, Dublin 2🎤 Guest of Honour: Christian Resch, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head … Continue reading Upcoming Book Launch: The Red Orchestra in Blue by Joe O’Byrne
My Music, My Motor by Colin O’Sullivan
I need a quiet place to write, a near-silent environment. I can just about take the low hum of a refrigerator, or the laptop’s electronic whirr. But a ticking clock will drive me up the very wall on which it hangs, a buzzing fly can have my concentration broken in mere seconds. Outside jackhammers, thunder … Continue reading My Music, My Motor by Colin O’Sullivan
Soundtrack for Maiko Moans by Colin O’Sullivan
Excerpt from Maiko Moans by Colin O’Sullivan
What Maiko remembers most is how plain the girl was, yet how much effort she had put in to surmount all that. She hadn’t much to go on. Her head seemed too big for her body, her shoulders too rounded, as if she shied of her own being and was forever pulling inward on herself; … Continue reading Excerpt from Maiko Moans by Colin O’Sullivan
Maeve, 1979
EXCERPT FROM A GOOD ENOUGH MOTHER She stepped away from me. ‘And now I’m going downstairs to make dinner. We’ll get you sorted tomorrow with clothes and whatever else you need. In the meantime,’ – she reached over to the dressing table and picked up something from a small glass dish – ‘you might want … Continue reading Maeve, 1979
book launch of Catherine Dunne’s new novel: A Good Enough Mother
Book Spotlight: Marshmallows
This month’s Spotlight read is Colin O’Sullivan’s fifth novel, Marshmallows. A mysterious three-act noir that subverts traditionally jubilant depictions of Christmas Eve, O’Sullivan’s play masked as a novel imbues the holiday season with an element of thriller, fitting as a perfect post-Halloween read on the lead up to the festive season. Centring around boyfriends Ben and David … Continue reading Book Spotlight: Marshmallows
A review of “Hear Us Fade”, a new novel by David Hogan
“We are but single notes in the discord, strings plucked once, sound and resonance Hear us fade...” —From Death in Hilton Head, an unpublished epic poem by Rex Nightly It is June 2029. The state of California. In San Francisco the uncontrolled forest fires are moving closer burning all that is in its path to … Continue reading A review of “Hear Us Fade”, a new novel by David Hogan
Excerpt from SOUL CATCHER, a novel by Dimitri Bortnikov
Translated from the French (Repas de morts) by Svetlana Pironko, in collaboration with Dimitri Bortnikov. Coming out on October 26, 2020 ...................................................“She was bringing waterlilies. From a good distance. Long stems. Long… In her mouth. She was swimming like a long replete reptile. I was making waterlily crowns. Garlands… She was wrapping herself into the … Continue reading Excerpt from SOUL CATCHER, a novel by Dimitri Bortnikov
“A haunting read”
A new review of Colin O'Sullivan's novel The Starved Lover Sings by Marvin Minkler of Modern First Editions: Colin O'Sullivan is one of the most remarkable and original writers currently turning out one outstanding novel after another. Killarney Blues was the author's debut, which won the French Prix Mystère de la Critique, followed by The … Continue reading “A haunting read”
“Life at its fullest” – Marvin Minkler about “Dirty Pictures”
"Rembrandt is quoted as saying, “Without atmosphere, painting is nothing.” Without atmosphere, neither is a great novel. Patricia Ketola's debut novel, Dirty Pictures, is poetic at times, sad, humorous, gripping, joyful, thrilling, and hopeful. A thoroughly captivating tale, rich in atmosphere, that is near impossible to put down. Still recovering from the death of her … Continue reading “Life at its fullest” – Marvin Minkler about “Dirty Pictures”
“A Poet of Darkness”
We are happy and proud – overjoyed, really! – to share with you a few lines from a letter that the great American post-modernist writer Richard Kalich wrote to us and the Irish writer Colin O’Sullivan after having read his work for the first time (Colin’s novel, The Starved Lover Sings). Such an endorsement, coming … Continue reading “A Poet of Darkness”
“If you are in the mood for something different, this may be it.”
Dirty Pictures by Patricia Ketola reviewed by Paul Burke in NB Magazine This novel is extremely well-written, it reads like a page-turner and the story is fascinating, but it won’t be for everyone, it might even be described as niche. Here’s why I think it might not appeal to some: If you want a straightforward … Continue reading “If you are in the mood for something different, this may be it.”
REMINDER: The Dark Manual promotion on Amazon UK
We don't want you to miss it! Until the end of October, Colin O'Sullivan's chilling and thought-provoking novel THE DARK MANUAL, due to become a TV series, is promoted on Amazon UK, and you can read the e-book for £0.99 only!
October treat: Amazon UK promotion for Colin O’Sullivan’s novel “The Dark Manual”
During the whole month of October, readers in the UK & Ireland can buy The Dark Manual here for £0.99! This is, of course, a Kindle edition. Print edition is also available on Amazon, the Book Depository (free delivery worldwide), etc. Or maybe you prefer to watch it on TV? It's coming, but it will … Continue reading October treat: Amazon UK promotion for Colin O’Sullivan’s novel “The Dark Manual”
More praise for “The Dark Manual”
Review published on Book Nudge / Book Noir, August 31, 2018. The Dark Manual defies easy categorisation; it’s a literary novel, a very desperate tale of love and loss, a noir thriller, of real and imaginary threats and a sci-fi speculation (which could be read as prescient future gazing). O’Sullivan has carved himself a distinct … Continue reading More praise for “The Dark Manual”
Donald Finnaeus Mayo about women’s fiction, spycops and divided societies (Interview, Part II)
KOB: Both of your novels are driven by strong female characters. Would you consider your work to be “Women’s Fiction” and if so, how do you feel your position as a male novelist impacts your female-centric writing? DFM: I have noticed that women seem to respond well to my work, which I'm happy about because … Continue reading Donald Finnaeus Mayo about women’s fiction, spycops and divided societies (Interview, Part II)
Donald Finnaeus Mayo about journalism, modern history and inspiration (Interview, Part I)
Kelly O’Brien: Both of your novels, Francesca and The Insider’s Guide to Betrayal are set in the 1970s and 1980s, is this period of time significant to you? What interests you in the writing of historical fiction? Donald Finnaeus Mayo: Most decades have something interesting to offer, and if you have lived through them your … Continue reading Donald Finnaeus Mayo about journalism, modern history and inspiration (Interview, Part I)
Richard Kalich acknowledged as a notable postmodernist author
Do you know the difference between Modernism and Postmodernism in literature? This Pediaa.com article gives a clear definition of each movement and, importantly, mentions Richard Kalich, author of The Nihilesthete, Charlie P., and Penthouse F, published as Central Park West Trilogy by Betimes Books, as one of the notable postmodernist writers, along with "household" names … Continue reading Richard Kalich acknowledged as a notable postmodernist author
Colin O’Sullivan’s “KILLARNEY BLUES” is on RTL!
Colin O'Sullivan's novel KILLARNEY BLUES (French translation, Éditions Rivages, Sept. 2017) is on the RTL radio (C'est à lire - To be read)! "This first Noir novel from Colin O'Sullivan is magnificent, very finely written, and profoundly sad. To be savoured while drinking a Guinness and listening to some old blues, by Muddy Waters or … Continue reading Colin O’Sullivan’s “KILLARNEY BLUES” is on RTL!
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