“Declan Burke is his own genre. The Lammisters dazzles, beguiles and transcends. Virtuoso from start to finish.” – Eoin McNamee “This bourbon-smooth riot of jazz-age excess, high satire and Wodehouse flamboyance is a pitch-perfect bullseye of comic brilliance.” – Irish Independent Books of the Year 2019 “This rapid-fire novel deserves a place on any bookshelf that grants asylum to PG Wodehouse, Flann O’Brien or Kyril Bonfiglioli.” – Eoin Colfer, Guardian Best Books of the Year 2019 “The funniest book of the year.” – Sunday Independent “Declan Burke is one funny bastard. The Lammisters ... conducts a forensic analysis on the anatomy of a story.” – Liz Nugent “Burke’s exuberant prose takes centre stage … He plays with language like a jazz soloist stretching the boundaries of musical theory.” – Totally Dublin “A mega-meta smorgasbord of inventive language ... linguistic verve not just on every page but every line.Irish Times “Above all, The Lammisters gives the impression of a writer enjoying himself. And so, dear reader, should you.” – Sunday Times “A triumph of absurdity, which burlesques the literary canon from Shakespeare, Pope and Austen to Flann O’Brien … The Lammisters is very clever indeed.” – The Guardian

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Shivers Down The Backbone: Yup, It’s The Inevitable Spinetingler Awards Reminder

In all the excitement of being nominated for the inaugural Spinetingler Magazine awards, and being too busy beating drums, gongs and chest on behalf of THE BIG O, which got a nod in the ‘Best Novel – New Voice’ category, we kinda forgot the season that was in it. In other words, a time of goodwill to all men (and women nominees too, natch). So, with Sandra Ruttan reminding us all that the closing date is January 5, we thought we’d take some time out from the Winterval frenzy to spread a little gentle cheer and ask you to open your hearts and spread the love, aka your precious vote. We’re not asking you to vote for THE BIG O, y’understand, partly because that would be unseemly, but mainly because even we know there are far better books in there than ours (we’re voting Allan Guthrie and Ken Bruen, by the way). No, the whole point is to maximise interest and participation on the basis that a rising tide lifts all boats. Quoth Sandra: “Oh, and for those of you who haven’t voted yet? 7 of the 8 categories are still too close to call …” So vote early, people, but not often: ONE EMAIL PER PERSON ONLY to sandra.ruttan@spinetinglermag.com , putting AWARD NOMINATIONS in the subject line. And may the best man split his vote with the best woman, allowing THE BIG O to sneak up on the inside. You know it makes sense …

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Check out the The Rap Sheet today, where The Big O is listed in their best of 2007. (I know this is not counting spinetingler and numerous other accolades)

http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/

Congratulations!

patricia
patriciajhale@aol.com

Uriah Robinson said...

Yes well done Declan.

I came over to let you know but Patricia had got here first.
The Big O is listed on the Rap Sheet between some guy called Ross McDonald and Declan Hughes.

Declan Burke said...

Much obliged, folks ... thank'ee kindly. Not a bad day for the Declans ... Cheers, Dec