Efacis I am really grateful to Prof. Pilar Villar Argáiz for gifting us with the opportunity to meet in real life the authors of the masterful narratives we have been working on in class: Emilie Pine, Donal Ryan and Colette Bryce. I had never experienced something like that, but being able to discuss literary texts with their own creators has resulted into an amazingly enriching and inspirational experience. The sessions we had with the writers helped me to understand their work in greater depth, to engage in passionate and critical discussions and to comprehend the motivations and particular circumstances surrounding Irish writing. We shared with them truly sincere and precious moments that reminded me of the value of literature and boosted my love for writing. Thank you so much to Pilar, Emilie, Donal and Colette for their kindness, their humanity and the generosity with which they have treated us.
Belén Cornejo Daza
*****
The opportunity to interact and have a conversation with authors Emilie Pine, Donal Ryan and Colette Bryce has been one of the most central and valuable experiences of this MA Program. As a student of English Literature, aspiring writer and enjoyer of Irish culture and literary tradition, I enjoyed this opportunity to understand and delve into the mind and writing process of very creative and outstanding minds. This experience has proved to be of great value, as engaging in critical conversations and debates and having a challenging conversation has helped us uncover and interpret explicit and implicit notions, nuances and contexts. Forever grateful to Pilar, EFACIS and the three kind visiting authors for bringing us this opportunity. Hopefully, more students will be able to enjoy this tête-à-têtes with such brilliant minds and surrounded by such great company.
Fernández Crujeiras
*****
I had never had the chance to talk to, not only one, but three professional writers so intimately before. Thanks to Prof. Villar, the students in the MA programme have been able to get really deep insights into the work of Emilie Pine, Donal Ryan and Colette Bryce and then the chance to discuss it with them personally. I consider this experience one of the most enriching of my academic life and I believe I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I say that being able to engage in such critical discussion has been very enriching and inspiring. I hope this year brings them renewed success and that they decide to share it with us once more with the same generosity and kindness."
Adrián Castro
*****
When you study a literary text you always imagine what it would be like to have the writer in front of you to ask her or him about their work. Thanks to EFACIS and Prof. Pilar Villar, this has become a reality for me this year. Having the chance to speak to the writers of the literary pieces that we have worked on in class has been a real pleasure and has helped me to deepen my understanding of them. The sessions were truly inspirational and emotive. The authors (Emilie Pine, Donal Ryan and Colette Bryce) were very nice to us and they answered all our questions. This experience is invaluable and it has certainly reinforced my love for literature and for Ireland and its culture. Thank you so much to everyone who made it possible.
Javier Morillas
*****
It has been such a nice experience to meet some of the most relevant present day Irish writers: Emily Pine, Donald Ryan and Colette Bryce. This has been a unique oportunity to listen to their own feelings and thoughts related to their literary works, which we had read. It has been very fruitul to ask these people questions about their work and so it will be necessary to keep on doing this in the following academic years.
Juan García Gallego.
*****
It has been a pleasure to share some time with Emily Pine, Donal Ryan and Colette Bryce even though they couldn't be present because of the covid crisis. I think that their literature is really adapted to the contemporary ages and always takes into account a feminist perspective. However, I would like to thank Colette Bryce particulary since her literature has appeared at a very crucial point in my life and I hope I get to know her in the future.
Beatriz Romero Velasco
