Laois poet and Beckett scholar to launch new book

WELL known Laois poet Dr. Arthur Broomfield is putting together the finishing touches to his latest book which is a collection of short stories entitled ‘Rising Dust’.

Poet and Beckett scholar Dr. Broomfield said he has been working on his short stories for around ten years. He said that his breakthrough came when he joined a residential course with the famed author Claire Keegan, who he said, changed his approach to writing “through very honest critiques of my work.” 

Most of the stories, in his new book says Dr. Broomfield: “Have their root in Irish life. The reader will relate to stories set in the fictional town of Portallen and its surrounds.” 

He said that his writing strength lies in his story telling and that his characters, “tend to leap off the page. We get to know them, to share their experiences, some dramatic, some sad and often laced with the author’s legendary talent for humour.” 

One knowledgeable reader of his work sees similarities between it and that of Ernest Hemingway.

“Yes, I am influenced by Hemingway,” said Dr. Broomfield, “but I like to draw my characters from an Irish setting, to develop them through dialogue and situations that I think are particularly to the Irish character that is familiar to me.” 

He said is not easy to answer, the question that is often asked of him as to where he get his inspiration from? 

“It’s never easy to answer that question,” he said. “The imagination works mysteriously. Though life experiences may have triggered some of my work.” 

The collection, which is published by Revival Press, Limerick, is Dr. Broomfield’s 12th book, and will be launched around Easter.