A recent graduate from the part-time Certificate in Creative Writing (Fiction) programme is set to have his collection of short stories published by US publisher, Off Limits Press.
Colin Leonard from county Meath completed the 12-week creative writing programme from September to December 2023, after writing and submitting stories to various anthology calls and magazines for a number of years. He had his debut novel, Country Roads, published by Brigids Gate Press in 2023.
Speaking of his writing, Colin said: “My writing veers towards the darker genres. There is a vibrant small press scene for horror, particularly in the US, encompassing everything from quiet, supernatural styles to slashers to weird and experimental writing. The competition, as in all areas of publishing, is daunting, but I have managed to place stories in some exciting places, including the publication of my debut novel last year”.
Colin’s recent writing success arose out of an open call for single author short story collections by US published, Off Limits Press. “First, I had to send in a pitch, detailing the themes and styles of my work and a brief description of the stories. This intrigued them enough to request the full manuscript.”, Colin notes.
For his submission, Colin collated a mixture of previously published and unpublished stories, including two pieces that he wrote as part of his portfolio when studying the Certificate in Creative Writing (Fiction).
It’s been a dream come true to assemble the equivalent of a mixtape of my own fiction! After much nervous waiting, Off Limits picked my collection of Irish-themed horror, titled “The Darkness Drops Again”, to be part of their 2025 publication schedule.
Speaking of his experience of studying creative writing with Carlow College, Colin says: “I hoped for something to really tighten my focus, a course that would get into the depths of fiction writing. It was a bit of a trek every Thursday evening, as I live in Meath and work in Dublin but very quickly that day of the week became an absolute treat for me. The teaching was perceptive and engaging and the exercises really honed certain techniques. There is nothing as inspiring for someone who wants to take writing seriously than to be in a room for three hours where you discuss and learn the craft and share your work with others.”
The Darkness Drops Again is due for publication in 2025. Updates can be found on Colin’s website.
The next intake of the Certificate in Creative Writing (Fiction) is commencing in September. Registrations can be made here.
