Book are my business: Children's Books Ireland publications officer Ruth Concannon

Irish Examiner

14 hours ago

Ruth Concannon is publications officer with Children's Books Ireland (CBI), which aims to help children and young people become readers for life.
How did you get into your role?
I did a masters in University College Dublin, and my thesis was on children's literature. I knew it was an area I wanted to explore, so I did an internship with Children's Books Ireland.
When I finished that, I worked in Charlie Byrne's bookshop in Galway for a few years, and also with Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin City Council Culture Company, and the National Library of Ireland. I always kept books at the heart of it.
I returned and did a masters in children's and young adult literature at DCU, then I saw this job come up, and I jumped at the chance.
I am in the role just over two years now and it was a real full circle moment, because it was almost 10 years after my internship that I became a full-time staff member.
What does your role involve?
It's a really varied role. I lead on selecting books for review on our website and across our publications. I edit our magazine, which is our flagship publication, and our other reading guides.
I help Elaina, our CEO, to select books that are highlighted on TV, radio, and in the media. I also write round-ups for various media outlets.
I represent CBI when we go to the Bologna Book Fair and to YALC, the young adult literature convention, which is in London every November.
I work across the team, with our comms team, book gifting and for awards submission. I track Irish-published books, to see what are the best opportunities for them to shine.
What do you like most about what you do?
There is something really special about finding a book and passing it on to the right reader.
I get a real buzz off that, whether it is matching one of our reviewers with the right book, or showing parents, caregivers and teachers a list of books on a topic that can help them through a difficult time.
It's also really great to be able to help authors get their books out there.
I still work as a book doctor, so seeing the look on a child's face when they get a book, that really means a lot to me.
I believe that a book can really spark something that can change the course of your life.
The book clinics are great because I get to see what the children themselves are enjoying — they are incredibly honest, which I always appreciate.
What do you like least about it?
I'm really fortunate in that I read widely because I have to read across age groups and genres.
Sometimes it would be nice to have more time to savour the books, like when you finish a book and it's so good and profound that you would like to sit with it for a while before you move on to the next.
Three desert island books
If I was on a desert island, a comfort read would be key, so I would bring Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy.
I love the way she tells stories and knits everything together, and the sense of community that you get from her books.
I love listening to her audiobooks as well, because her cousin Kate Binchy reads them and she is spectacular.
The next book would be The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson, who was a very influential author on me growing up.
I absolutely adored her books, and it's a treat now to revisit them, because she has started to write adult sequels, which is such a gift.
The last one is likely the most important one, The Secret of the Ruby Ring by Yvonne McGrory, an author from Donegal, which came out in the early '90s.
When I was about nine, my aunt got me a box of books from a charity shop for Christmas, and this was in it.
It was the book that started my journey to becoming a reader; if I hadn't read it, I probably wouldn't be where I am today.