Introduction

Hello and welcome to the first blog post of Heartstrings Guild!

My name is Colm Horgan. I’m the founder of Heartstrings Guild. I’ll be the one in charge of posts here, so I thought I might start with a little info on myself!

I began writing in school, with short stories in the backs of copybooks.

I got my chance to refine what I loved to do after being accepted by the Centre for Talented Youth Ireland program in DCU for a correspondence course in creative writing, and later, a course in psychology.

I graduated from University College Cork with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in philosophy and psychology. I continued to complete a Master’s in philosophy with a thesis on True Love and Free Will.

While in college I was introduced to spoken word poetry. It was the mix of theatre, music and writing stories that really appealed to me.

During this time, I was also published by the site Thought Catalog with a piece called “Why Hopeless Romantics Are Actually Hopeful Romantics”. I’d later be published twice more by the site and be commissioned to submit pieces to two other sites: Finding Bohemia and Mogul.

I took these as signs and I began to collect poems I had and put them together as a book.

I took the plunge to self-publish. But I thought, why stop there? Why not create a platform where I could publish other art I created? And later down the road, maybe I could help other artists find their way.

This was the first idea I had for Heartstrings Guild: a company that would help artists get a foot on the ladder, create a community that could work together.

After a year or so of work, I published The Goddess of Hearts and The Fool of Hope, my first collection of poetry, and began Heartstrings Guild.

And that brings us to present day. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my family and friends, and I’m always thankful to have them in my life.

Although it’s hard to admit sometimes, this also never would have begun without a broken heart.

I am still only hopeful of what is to come. I hope you’ll stick around to read some of my blog posts and keep an eye on this little publishing house looking to spread its wings. The greatest art comes from the sound of the heart, so keep those Heartstrings ringing.