Ferenji

Ferenji - stories from the field by Helena Mulkerns, is the second edition of this title, previously published by Doire Press. This debut from the author is a themed short fiction collection set among civilians in conflict and post-conflict zones. From ancient Arabic, the term Ferenji  means 'foreigners' and exists today in countries from Ethiopia to Thailand. The author herself is a former journalist and civiian peacekeeper, who spent ten years 'in the field' as a press officer and photographer in Central America, Africa and Asia.

Ferenji depicts life in the field with pathos, dark field humour and satire, lending a passionate civilian voice to contemporary post-conflict literature. 

In 'A Child Called Peace', two young Irish peacekeepers find a child dying in a minefield. In 'Blood and Bone' a war photographer is haunted by the mage of a refugee. The title story, 'Ferenji' pits a lone aid worker against a bureaucratic system and 'Operation Cat Lift' is an allegory for our times.

"Dogs", which explores how sexism can go beyond culture and borders, was shortlisted for the Bórd Gais Irish Book Awards 2017, in the category of "Short Story of the Year".