Cinders Zine

Author: Méabh McDonnell

  • Hear me Roar! Or, how I learned to deal with my anger at the world

    Hear me Roar! Or, how I learned to deal with my anger at the world

    This week we released a new issue of Cinders Magazine, our tenth publication if you can believe it! And in it I had some very strong opinions about today’s society and how I deal with my anger at it. ‘I am woman hear me roar’ is an anthem, both literally and metaphorically. It originally comes…

  • Book Review – The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson

    Book Review – The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson

    The Wren Hunt, you might have heard of it? Or the Wren Boys? If you’re from outside of Ireland you probably won’t have – and even if you’re living in Ireland, the chances are slim… They’re boy’s who hunt the wren the day after Christmas. Nowadays the wren boys chant and sing and parade through…

  • Coping with the future – an interview with Stefanie Preissner

    Coping with the future – an interview with Stefanie Preissner

    Stefanie Preissner is not a new name to the Irish writing scene, but is one that’s getting called all the more frequently. Through her work in theatre, her critcally acclaimed series, Can’t Cope Won’t Cope and her new book, Stefanie Preissner has gone from ‘one to watch’ to someone we’re all watching closely. We sat…

  • Re-reading Ursula Le Guin

    Re-reading Ursula Le Guin

    Cinders Editor Méabh McDonnell can list five books that changed her life, Ursula Le Guin’s Very Far Away from Anywhere Else is one of them. To mark  Ursula K. Le Guin’s death earlier this year, she talks about how her books affected her.  “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it…

  • Re-writing the story – an interview with Theodora Goss

    Re-writing the story – an interview with Theodora Goss

    Theodora Goss is  an author, poet, and fairytale professor. Cinders editor, Méabh McDonnell spoke to Theodora about heroines, fables and the adventures of her 19th century feminist series, The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter. 1. Can you remember when you realised you wanted to be a writer’? No! I must have been very young,…

  • Rocking the World – An Interview with Siobhán Parkinson

    Rocking the World – An Interview with Siobhán Parkinson

    First published in Cinders Volume Two, Issue Two Women of Irish history don’t usually get a large amount of pages in school history books. Rocking the System is a book that wants to change that. Written by Siobhán Parkinson, Rocking the System from Little Island Books, opens a window into the histories of 20 Irish…

  • Diamond in the Rough – An interview with Aine Cahill

    Diamond in the Rough – An interview with Aine Cahill

    Rising star of the Irish music industry Áine Cahill is about to hit it big. Her new single, Blood Diamonds, is blowing up the airwaves and her tour has seen her perform with the likes of Kodaline and  JP Cooper. Having been named on multiple ‘ones to watch’ and ‘best newcomer’ lists, Aine Cahill is…

  • Recommended reading: Katherine Arden, Image Comics, Ursula, K. Le Guin

    Recommended reading: Katherine Arden, Image Comics, Ursula, K. Le Guin

      The Girl in the Tower By Katherine Arden The Girl in the Tower is the sequel to the amazing Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. We reviewed The Bear and the Nightingale in Cinders Says in our very first issue, and we were delighted with the dark, wintery Russian fairy tale. The story continues…

  • Beautiful release – An interview with musician Sara Ryan

    Beautiful release – An interview with musician Sara Ryan

    Musician Sara Ryan is the next big thing in folk music. Here, she talks to Cinders about her musical background, being named new folk artist of the year and her plans for the future. What was your first foray into music? I grew up in Newbridge, Co. Kildare and growing up, the town was full…

  • Book Review- Not if I save you First by Ally Carter

    Book Review- Not if I save you First by Ally Carter

    How many times have you thought – life as a secret service agent must be fun? Many? Me too. Well, Maddie Manchester knows exactly what it’s like. Because her father was one. He isn’t anymore, because, well, that’s what happens when your father takes a bullet for the president. He tends to re-think his priorities…