Sing, I’s Official Trailer

Okay, it’s not the big screen, but Sing, I has a trailer that can be viewed on full-screen. I’m inching ever closer to my dream of my work becoming a film or TV series. At least that’s what I’m telling myself! I hope you enjoy.

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After Failure

My deep thanks to hosts Grant Faulkner and Brooke Warner for including me on their excellent, inspirational podcast Write-minded. I talk about failure, perseverance, book sales, wrestling with self-doubt, and my advice for my younger self. Thanks for taking a listen.

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My imagination is rooted in Ireland

Thank you Martha Brennan for this feature at the Irish Star.

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Goodreads Giveaway

Enter here to win a signed, advance print copy of my second novel Sing, I: the story of one woman’s path to rediscovering herself through music, romance, and a little vigilantism.

Inside Half Moon Bay, a sparkling California coastal town, Ester Prynn is dulled and diminished by struggles with work, money, marriage, her senile father, a troubled teenage son, and old guilt she can’t quiet. When a masked gunman robs the convenience store where Ester works, he upends her fraught life and propels her toward passions buried, like singing; desires discovered, like a same-sex infatuation; and wrongs righted, like bringing the violent assailant to justice. But as the armed robber commits more crimes and continues to evade capture, the trauma from the holdup climbs, threatening Ester’s newfound delights and longings and forcing her to contend with her burning regrets and what-ifs. In the reckoning between Ester and these growing, molten upsets, she’s faced with enormous choices and must determine what and who can bring her to her best life.

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Book Cover Reveal

I’m pleased to reveal the cover for my second novel Sing, I as designed by Morgan Krehbiel (TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press, April 15, 2024). Preorders are a huge help to authors and Sing, I is currently 40% off on the publisher’s website through December 15 (Code: SNOW23). Preorders can also be placed through your local bookstore and library. If you preorder Sing, I as a gift, I’ll happily and gratefully send a card to your giftee telling them you’ve purchased the novel for them and giving them a teaser on what they can look forward to reading.

About Sing, I:

Inside Half Moon Bay, a sparkling California coastal town, Ester Prynn is dulled and diminished by struggles with work, money, marriage, her senile father, a troubled teenage son, and old guilt she can’t quiet. When a masked gunman robs the convenience store where Ester works, he upends her fraught life and propels her toward passions buried, like singing; desires discovered, like a same-sex infatuation; and wrongs righted, like bringing the violent assailant to justice. But as the armed robber commits more crimes and continues to evade capture, the trauma from the holdup climbs, threatening Ester’s newfound delights and longings and forcing her to contend with her burning regrets and what-ifs. In the reckoning between Ester and these growing, molten upsets, she’s faced with enormous choices and must determine what and who can bring her to her best life.

Advance Praise for Sing, I:

“Ethel Rohan’s Sing, I is a narrative marvel.” —Marcy Dermansky, author of Hurricane Girl

“Rohan examines the cost of living in the shadow of both a uniquely American violence and the age-old constrictions that curtail women’s lives with obligation over authenticity.” —Gina Frangello, author of Blow Your House Down

Sing, I is a battle cry drenched in grace. It, quite simply, sings.” —Lindsay Hunter, author of Hot Springs Drive 

“Romantic, thrilling, and pitch-perfect.” —Dominic Lim, author of All the Right Notes

“We are in rock-solid hands with Rohan, a consummate stylist, storyteller and deep humanitarian.” —Sara Lippmann, author of LECH

“Rohan is one of our finest writers.” —Matthew Salesses, author of The Sense of Wonder

“Ester Prynn is honest and real and impossible not to love.” —Shanthi Sekaran, author of Lucky Boy and writer for NBC’s New Amsterdam

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Bay Area Book Festival 2023

Another stellar annual Bay Area Book Festival on offer this weekend. I’ve been holed up for what feels like an age and look forward to catching up with old (and new!) friends while attending as many of these great events as possible. See you there! With thanks to panelists Keenan Norris, PilarQuintana, and Margaret Verble, bookseller Bookshop West Portal, and the generous sponsorship of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

[Graphic by Grace Loh Prasad at The Writers Grotto]

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New Book News

There were dark times I did not think this day would come, but I persisted. I’m elated and grateful to have my second novel forthcoming from TriQuarterly Books. With deep thanks to my editor, Marisa Siegel.

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Irish Book Box Subscription

I’m delighted to partner with Bookshop West Portal and curate their first-ever national book subscription service. I’ll choose six new Irish books of fiction or nonfiction over 12 rolling months and write a letter to go with each title, sharing why I picked it and how I hope the read will also captivate subscribers.

Feel free to let me know about forthcoming titles by Irish and Irish diaspora writers, especially underrepresented voices (LGBTQ+, women, refugees, immigrants, working class, Pavee, writers of color, writers with disabilities/chronic illness). In addition to my picks, my letter and Bookshop West Portal’s website will include recommendations for those titles that make my subscription shortlist.

Already on my radar are forthcoming books from Bono, Emma Donoghue, Colm Tóibín, Claire Keegan, Louise Kennedy, Michelle Gallen, Sarah Gilmartin, Karl Geary, Sebastian Barry, and Robert Harris. Who am I missing?

I’d love you to join me on this reading journey. For more information and to subscribe, go here: https://www.bookshopwestportal.com/irish-readers-book-subscription-page.

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Bay Area Book Festival 2022

Jane Ciabattari, Moderator. Colin Barrett and Ethel Rohan, panelists.

It was wonderful to participate in the 8th annual Bay Area Book Festival, which was back in person this year, and to see thousands of people show up so enthusiastically for the arts, and in particular books and writing. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to discuss home, exile, belonging, and living and writing from the fractured spaces during my second panel on ‘Short Stories: In Search of Belonging.’

A craft question from a member of the audience asked how to depict not belonging in story: As with everything else in fiction, it’s down to the personal, sensory, precise, and specific details. Ultimately, I think Colin Barrett and I agreed that home is a state of being. Similarly, I think we reached consensus that in determining what a story has to be to be of value, the writer satisfies that answer for themselves with each piece of writing, and the reader in turn satisfies that answer for themselves. It also seems I will never be allowed forget that I told the Westmeath Independent’s editor Tadhg Carey that I was a “queen of uncomfortable stories.” Thanks again to our moderator Jane Ciabattari for her unfailing excellence.

My deep thanks also to Molly Giles, Sarah Moss and Leslie Kirk Campbell for the brilliance they brought to the panel I moderated on ‘Keep Calm and Go Quietly Mad’. The consensus here was resoundingly that the cultural treatment of  ‘madness’ is often biased and careless, and has to be placed within its social and political context (who among us hasn’t unraveled to various degrees, and the extreme pressures keep climbing). Unraveling, breaking down to build back up, can also be necessary and  useful. We were unanimous that keeping calm is often the worst response. Instead resist, and agitate. We were less uniform in our thoughts on whether magic, higher powers, or divine inspiration are possible.

Both events were generously sponsored by Culture Ireland, and were in partnership with Pegasus Bookstore and Eastwind Books, Berkeley.

I remain wholly impressed by the feat that is organizing and fulfilling a festival of this size and caliber. To Cherilyn Parsons, Norah Piehl, and their team, and to the enormous village of volunteers, congratulations and bravo. Now take a well-earned rest.

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As Seen On PBS!

I shrieked. I danced. I gave deep thanks. Thrilled to see my short story collection flashed on national TV. It’s way more thrilling to see what two brilliant minds and beautiful spirits can accomplish together. I highly recommend this 7 minute segment that aired on PBS NewsHour Friday night and featured the extraordinary Wendy MacNaughton, Caroline Paul, and Draw Together Studio.

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