The West Cork branch of Network Ireland has introduced a novel way of staying connected with it’s members. The inaugural virtual ‘Network Book Club’ was launched on June 18 by West Cork author Caragh Bell. The Network are passionate about supporting local women and it was out of a suggestion to support a local writer from Skibbereen that the book club idea was born. Caragh, who also teaches English and French at Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty, launched the ‘Network Book Club’ with her one of her recent books ‘Gabriella’. Caragh’s writing career started when she self-published the first in a trilogy featuring the love story of Lydia and Luca but was soon snapped up by Poolbeg for a six-book deal and has since become a household name.
Caragh says she enjoys writing romantic fiction, as it offers escapism in a world saturated with bad news – her books are light, funny and addictive. When asked how she comes up with the characters, she said “Many are similar to people I know and each of the places in my books, are places I have visited myself. I’m a visual writer and can visualise each location and each character in that location.” Caragh finds writing first thing in the morning is the best time for her and smiled when she said “I can hear my two-year-old singing away in the next room. I’m most productive in the morning but coffee helps a lot”.
To have the author of the book join the book club is an honour, to be able to describe to the readers how the storylines comes to life is a real treat, Caroline Murphy president of Network Ireland West Cork said “Caragh was so lovely and real and engaging, it was really fun. It is so important for us as a branch to stay connected with our members to support them socially for health and well being and the book club was a really fun way of doing this.”
Network Ireland West Cork is passionate about engaging with its members and encouraging them to keep talking and sharing both for business and socially. Caroline encourages all members to join the next book club on Thursday, July 16 (registration details on Eventbrite), saying “I was delighted with the turnout for our first book club and I’m looking forward to next month’s book, author and discussion.”
