Hello, I'm Daniel O'Reilly; independent author, publisher and media artist living and writing in my mountain retreat in northern Spain, and welcome to [archipelago] Literature and Small Press, producing avant-garde fiction for my Patrons here on Patreon!

Though I've published extensively in literary journals, the Patreon membership model gets me as close as possible to my readers and the relationships formed here have proven fruitful. I'd like to take this opportunity to say thanks to my superb and loyal Patrons for enabling my story to continue to this stage where future development feels tantalising and avenues are beginning to open in surprising places.

'LOS DISPARATES' PROJECT UPDATE:

I'm currently editing my first novel 'Los Disparates' - a compendium of 22 short stories inspired by the famous book of engravings by Spanish artist Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) - which translates into English as "Follies". Every two weeks Patrons receive updated versions of the 1st draft stories, along with a blog post detailing the editing process, and associated multimedia.

Alleyway in Gothic Tortosa

I’ve been writing the stories that make up the [archipelago] library since 2018, though I’ve been researching and designing the concept for considerably longer. In making the process publicly visible via both social media and literary situations in real life, and by encouraging dialogue to stimulate critical decision making on every aspect of the project - from the initial sketch of an idea to a physical, handmade book - I attempt to incorporate the hybrid social experience of contemporary life into the fabric of the project, right down to the way it is read. Patreon helps me get new fiction directly to my fans each and every fortnight, like a sandbox for surrealism where I can test out ideas, techniques and strategies with my patrons, and listen to their feedback. This material is later compiled, edited, printed, (even translated, when I’m feeling brave,) and finally stitched into handmade chapbooks and other literary ephemera currently being hawked directly to the public from my market stall, to be found in the various fairs I attend around northern Spain where I live and work. In 2022 I exhibited stories, photographs and music from the [archipelago] project at the International Exhibition of Surrealism in Cairo & Alexandria in Egypt, which later travels to the Andre Breton House in France. I've also recently published short fiction in the Margate Bookie Zine, Sulfur Surrealist Jungle, Tiny Spoon magazine, Writer's Block magazine, the Bengaluru Review, Everything in Aspic Magazine, Defunkt Magazine, Chachalaca Review, The Room Journal of African Surrealism, and Black Flowers Literary Magazine, plus poetry and theory in the Cutbank Literary Magazine, Roots-Routes Magazine and The Dawntreader Literary Journal, and I'm currently exploring other subversive forms of writing, including in performance and public exhibition.

Bookbinding in process

My previous significant works include the labyrinthine website The Unstitute online art lab and artists’ co-operative space founded with my wife and longtime collaborator Marianna in 2011; conceived as a unique architecture to explore or a maze to get lost in, (it does actually contain several mazes,) this project displays literary methods and conceptual themes now reflected in and developed more intensely for [archipelago]. At this time I produced and screened original video art in competitions and exhibitions in over 22 countries worldwide. On previous world travels, I worked for the radio station at the Auroville international township in Tamil Nadu, India, recording international musicians and airing original sound compositions. I received my Master’s degree in fine art from Chelsea College of Art and Design, and my first-class Honours degree from Winchester School of Art. And the future? As the project evolves these stories take on an array of physical as well as paperless forms; I'm developing augmented reality stories accessible through your phone via QR codes to be discovered through an ever-expanding network of geocaches hidden in the urban and rural environment: your patronage allows this story to evolve in extraordinary ways, plus ensures you are always first to find out what’s new.

Els Ports Natural Parc, Catalonia

$1 patronage gets you a library of over 120 original short stories, plus you will even get your name credited in published manuscripts to display your patronage of the project for posterity! For higher-tier patrons I have developed a range of cool and unusual rewards, including previously published art books and handmade chapbooks. Curious? Read selected stories for free, plus find short essays, collected photographic research of stunning rural Catalonia all assembled under the convenient featured tags on my page.

Daniel

(You may also like to follow my practice on my Facebook page)