Dundalk based author to present her debut book at Children’s Books Ireland conference

Clara Kumagai, who lives in Dundalk, has been selected to present her debut book to international peers at this year’s Children’s Books Ireland International Conference in the Light House Cinema in Smithfield, Dublin, on the 16th and 17th of September.

Clara Kumagai’s debut book ‘Catfish Rolling’ was published by Zephyr Press this year, and is a coming-of-age young adult novel which explores the themes of identity, relationships, grief and ecology. The novel is set in a world of Japanese myths, folklore and magical realism. Clara Kumagai has recently relocated to Ireland from Tokyo, having originally grown up in Cork. 

The New Voices slot spotlights debut authors and illustrators nominated by both Irish and international publishers, creating books across a range of genres for young readers of all ages. Each nominee will present their debut work to the conference audience for five minutes.

Clara Kumagai is from Canada, Japan and Ireland. Her fiction and non-fiction for children and adults has been published in The Stinging Fly, The Irish Times, Banshee, Room, The Kyoto Journal and Cicada, among others.

Her short story, ‘A Girl Named Indigo’, was translated and published in Japanese as a picture book with the title Indigo wo sagashite (Shogakukan, 2020).

She was a recipient of a We Need Diverse Books Mentorship (with Nicola Yoon) and a finalist for the 2020 Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award.

Her debut YA novel, Catfish Rolling (Zephyr, 2023), blends magical realism with Japanese myth in an original story about grief and memory.

US rights have been sold to Abrams Children’s and Canadian rights to Penguin Teen Canada. Clara is also developing an essay collection centred around multiracial identity, hybridity and belonging. 

Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said:

“The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Risk and Reward’. For our New Voices, presenting their debut work to fellow authors, illustrators, publishers and booklovers may seem a daunting brief, but the reward will absolutely outweigh the risk.

“It’s a brave thing to put something you’ve created out into the world but Clara, and all our New Voices, can be assured, they will find only celebration and support from Children’s Books Ireland and our audience!”

 Spotlighting the diversity of writers and illustrators in Ireland, CEO of Black and Irish, Leon Diop and its Managing Director, Briana Fitzsimons, will discuss a new collaborative project with Little Island Books; and Brazilian picturebook creator, Tarsila Krüse, who has lived in Ireland since 2007, will discuss her experience of learning and working in the Irish language for titles such as Púcaí Schmúcaí! and Ná Gabh ar Scoil!.

The conference will also hear from Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde and from Laura Ryan, Assistant Librarian in DCU’s Special Collections and Archives. Laura will present the partnership between DCU Library and Children’s Books Ireland, which sees hundreds of books transferred each year to the university’s care.

With support from the Arts Council of Ireland, the Children’s Books Ireland International Conference will be live-streamed on YouTube and financial support will be available to delegates to assist in travel, accommodation and childcare costs. Children’s Books Ireland has also made a limited number of free in-person and digital tickets available for unwaged persons who wish to attend in-person and online.

For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/ childrens-books-ireland- conference-2023-risk-and- reward-tickets-668767530687? aff=PR