Halcyon Days

Attended a most enjoyable book launch last evening. The book was called 'Cherry's Farm' a hardback for very young children written and illustrated by Cherry Brandon, who's primarily a textile designer for people like Armani and rather a good artist when she's not looking after the animals on the real Cherry's Farm in County Laois.

I met Cherry six months or a year ago at a party and found her fascinating. Not a word of the book then -- it's her first. I gather the project was one of those unplanned, out-of-the-blue things that come up like thunder and then go like a dream from initial conception to finished product. I read the finished product before going to bed last night and found it utterly charming.

But the book was only half the excitement. 'Cherry's Farm' is the very first venture for a brand-new Irish publisher, Halcyon Days, set up by two very dear friends of mine, Rita Kelly and Edel Connolly. You can read all about them and their new business at www.halcyondayspublishing.com.

Watch out for the Halcyon name in future. I've a feeling it's going to be big.