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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 3d

If you could step into one of your illustrations?

We have a few wonderful clips from the launch of Dino Mode Activated with @jenwallacecreates.bsky.social and myself in Cork.

Thanks again to the wonderful team in @dubraybooks.bsky.social and @littleislandbooks.bsky.social

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 3d

This always bugged me about business and marketing books To the point I stopped reading them. The basic idea gets covered in chapter one then 13 chapters of repeating the same thing in different ways! The press article reviewing the book was always more on point!

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 9d

What was the first illustration you did for this book?

We have a few wonderful clips from the launch of Dino Mode Activated with @jenwallacecreates.bsky.social and myself in Cork.

Thanks again to the wonderful team in @dubraybooks.bsky.social and @littleislandbooks.bsky.social

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 10d

Oh absolutly. Sound design in general was top class.

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 10d

Rewatching them now what really stands out is the excellent story telling, pacing, character and visual design. They get the kudos for special effects but they had the full spread. 😍

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 10d

Just means you have a relaxing voice. The book will be ace! 😁

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 11d

I realise I have not shared many illustrations from recent books.

In @jenwallacecreates.bsky.social Dino books I had loads of fun with the in game illustrations, epic fights with end level bosses.

I loved it so much I even painted one up in colour.

Published by @littleislandbooks.bsky.social

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 17d

A full tour of the Comic Making Toolkit for kids that I have been building in college.

www.spoiltchild.com/the-comic-ma...

The Comic Making Toolkit - Alan O'Rourke - Picturebook Illustrator and Writer

For the most recent module of the one-year Post Grad course I have been doing with NCAD and Creative Spark in Dundalk I was able to design and create a

www.spoiltchild.com

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

Laureate na nÓg @laureatenanog.bsky.social · 23d

Do you know a young reader (16-24) who could help us select the next Laureate na nÓg? Applications close next Friday - we'd particularly love to hear from young people from underrepresented backgrounds or communities.

More information + application form childrenslaureate.ie/young-reader...

Poster advertising a callout for young readers. The background is a gradient orange and the bottom half of the image is an illustration of five young people reading surrounded by stacks of books. The main heading text reads "Are you someone who is interested in books and reading? An maith leat a bheith ag léamh as Gaeilge chomh maith? if you are aged 16-24 we want to hear from you!"

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

Marc Diamond @marcwithasea.bsky.social · 22d

It’s Friday.
This week, the essence of creativity has been heavy on my mind.
And I’m taking that with me into the weekend!
#ireland

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 24d

Me too!

Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 25d

I wrote up everything I have learned about doing kids workshops… so far.

Comment if I have missed anything.

www.spoiltchild.com/the-survivor...

The Survivors Guide to Kids Library Workshops (So Far) - Alan O'Rourke - Picturebook Illustrator and Writer

I have been doing kids' book workshops in libraries and a couple of bookshops for one year now. For the summer, I just finished up a 14-event run across Meath

www.spoiltchild.com

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · 25d

Despite promising not to, I watched the second season of Foundation, and again just finished the third.
Still gorgeous looking. Still terribly written and frequently stupid.
I now promise not to watch it ever again.

Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

Amal El-Mohtar @amalelmohtar.com · Sep 10

Simply the best slide I have ever seen in a powerpoint presentation care of @premeemohamed.com’s talk at @banffcentre.bsky.social re: Putting the Science in Science Fiction

Text mounted on a screen reads as follows:

WHAT IS SCIENCE FICTION?

1. DOESN'T MATTER
2. WHO CARES
3. MARKETING DEPARTMENT'S PROBLEM
4. NOT YOURS

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

Double Z @doublezcreative.bsky.social · Sep 10

Fixed it!!

Zogglebox is on tonight on @virginmediatv.bsky.social at 9pm featuring a whole host of celebrities and of course The Den gang back together for one night only!

We had a lot of fun hanging out with Dustin and Ray!

#zigandzag #dustintheturkey #raydarcy #gogglebox

Zig and Zag, Ray Darcy and Dustin the turkey appearing on celebrity Gogglebox sofa

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

Olivia Hope @oliviahopewriter.bsky.social · Sep 9

Publication week for The Lonely Only Dinosaur by me and Anna Sußbauer, out with Gill Books on Thursday, Sept 11th.

Perhaps you're in Dublin on Thursday evening? Do join me and the loveliest book gang.

The Lonely Only Dinosaur book launch in Dubray Books on Grafton Street, Dublin at 6.30pm on Thursday Sept. 11th

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · Sep 9

Such a great album.

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · Sep 9

Thank you Erika ❤️

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · Sep 9

See you on Thursday!
Cork folk, I am hoping you can join Jen Wallace and myself for the book launch of Dino Mode Activated in Dubray Cork this Thursday, 11/09/2025, 6:30pm.

It will be a fine evening of lovely booky people, wine, sweets and Dinosaurs.

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

MaryEsther Judy @fallenstarmary.bsky.social · Sep 4

So far, September is looking like a very busy, joyous month for reading! There's been #bookpost from @theobrienpress.bsky.social , @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social and today, one from @littleislandbooks.bsky.social ... I am so happy! Thank you, one and all!
#BookPostIsTheBestPost #FallenStarStories

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · Aug 30

Beware! Really convincing looking spam message regarding a hotel booking for the night of the Childrens Books Ireland conference in dublin.
The easyHotel systems might be compromised as they got my dates and details.

I rang and confirmed it is spam.

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Alan O'Rourke @alanorourke.bsky.social · Aug 27

I blame vaccines!!

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

James Brophy @jamesfbrophy.bsky.social · Aug 21

With the British government making absurd and incomplete arguements for a law so badly written it accidentally made the Internet illegal, let us now turn to something that actually Will make children safer...

Universal Basic Income.

Ruth Glendinning @futurestorylab.bsky.social · Aug 21

@scottsantens.com reports on the publication of a meta-analysis looking at 13 unconditional basic income experiments. The researchers concluded that across all 9 categories they looked at, UBI improved the outcomes, and those who benefited the most tended to be children.

youtube.com/shorts/tOMd9...

13-study meta analysis shows that those who benefit the most from universal basic income are kids

YouTube video by Scott Santens

youtube.com

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

Ken Mahon @detectiveken.bsky.social · Aug 18

Hello! I've been one of the lucky few on the BIA these last few years, and in light of the uncertainty of its future and potential for public support, I decided to write out this comic with the help of BIA compatriot @ianfay.bsky.social to share our stories. 1/3

ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

Ken: Hey, I'm Ken.

Ian: And I'm Ian. We're both in receipt of the B.I.A. (Basic Income For the Arts)

Ken: Our last payment is in February 2026. The future of the scheme is uncertain, but we're here to talk about the past and what we've accomplished these past three years.

Ian: Thanks to the B.I.A, I have expanded my skill set and learned 3D sculpting. I bought a 3D printer to make hand painted toys of my own designs.

Ian: I can afford to repair it and spent thousands in the local economy continuing to grow and create.

Ken: As for me, I've been self-publishing small books for a while, but I now have the means to release larger books, which also gave me the confidence to run two different crowdfunding campaigns.

Ken: Without it, and after failing to return to animation, I was going to start a career in I.T. I was in a bad place with no hope for the future, but almost overnight, the B.I.A made my long struggling passion into a real livelihood. Nowadays, I can travel for events, sustain car expenses and socialise without managing my spending. In darker times, I was about to pay all the vet bills for my dying cat.

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Reposted by Alan O'Rourke

Literature Ireland @literatureireland.bsky.social · Aug 12

Would you like to contribute to the public consultation about the Basic Income for the Arts? 💡

Fill out this survey from Minister O’Donovan at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport: ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/run...

Basic Income for the Arts public consultation

ec.europa.eu

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