The Books

Goldilocks Returns

In a mind-bending twist of fate, Goldilocks Returns!

Only this time, she’s not snooping around a quaint English cottage. Instead, she stumbles upon the Bears’ humble abode in the heart of India, where, believe it or not, things have gone from porridge-perfect to delightfully dysfunctional.

Picture this: Papa Bear, the exasperated patriarch, trying to instil a semblance of order in a house where Baby Bear, now a rebellious young adult, smokes a pipe and throws bricks around just for kicks. Mama Bear, on the other hand, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, thanks to the sugar being spilled everywhere but her chai. And did I mention the salmon? Oh yes, a wise-cracking salmon has somehow flopped his way into the kitchen sink, philosophising between sassy quips. If that’s not enough, a gang of ferrets storms the place, plotting an absurd coup, while a toad sits in a corner, croaking mournfully about its lost turnip friend.

From the Sea Hound

From the Sea Hound is Stephen’s first collection of poetry, published in 2019. The title stems from a conversation with an old friend about his love of dogs and his love of the ocean. Ó’Murchú, the Irish for Murphy, translates directly as From the Sea Hound back into the English. It’s a collection rooted in mythology, from poems about the sovereign goddess Ériu through to the Ulster hero Cúchulainn, it’s rich in insight and the deep lyricism that his poetry is known for.