title: Open Door Series
text: # Open Door Series
  
  The Open Door series, an adult literacy series of novellas by well-known Irish authors, was launched in the mid-1990s by Irish publisher New Island and author Patricia Scanlan. Scanlan had worked in public libraries in Dublin before becoming a full-time writer and was acutely aware of the literacy problems facing a large segment of the adult population and the dearth of appropriate reading material available to them.
  
  The Open Door texts are subject to specific editorial guidelines, which help participating authors create novels for the purpose intended. These include: a discernible plot; a few, well-developed characters; simple language with the occasional challenging word; and short chapters, to create the feel and structure of "regular" novels. All the texts are 10,000 words or less and sentences are kept short.
  
  These characteristics of the texts have also endeared them to students learning English as a foreign language, and they are gradually being marketed as such, with co-editions containing glossaries being produced by German ELT publisher Cornelsen as of 2006. Audio editions have also been published, by WH Howes. In summer 2007, Irish language editions of some of the most popular Open Door titles were published with the language school market in mind.
  
  ## Books in the series
  
  As of 2006, five series of the Open Doors were in print, with a new series of the English language editions planned for the autumn of 2007. One poetry anthology, edited by Niall McMonagle, was also published under the series banner. All royalties from domestic sales of English language titles are donated to a charity of the author's choice.
  
  ### Books published in the first series
  
  Sad Song - Vincent Banville
  
  In High Germany - Dermot Bolger
  
  Not Just For Christmas - Roddy Doyle
  
  Maggie's Story - Sheila O'Flannagan
  
  Billy and Jesus are Off to Barcelona - Deirdre Purcell
  
  Ripples - Patricia Scanlan
  
  ### Books published in the second series
  
  No Dress Rehearsal - Marian Keyes Joe’s Wedding - Gareth O’Callaghan
  
  The Comedian - Joseph O’Connor
  
  Second Chance - Patricia Scanlan
  
  Pipe Dreams - Anne Schulmanl
  
  Old Money, New Money - Peter Sheridan
  
  ### Books published in the third series
  
  An Accident Waiting to Happen - Vincent Banville
  
  The Builders - Maeve Binchy
  
  Letter from Chicago - Cathy Kelly Driving with Daisy - Tom Nestor
  
  It All Adds Up - Margaret Neylon
  
  Has Anyone Here Seen Larry? - Deirdre Purcell
  
  ### Books published in the fourth series
  
  Fair-Weather Friend - Patricia Scanlan
  
  The Story of Joe Brown - Rose Doyle
  
  The Smoking Room - Julie Parsons
  
  World Cup Diary - Niall Quinn
  
  The Quiz Master - Michael Scott
  
  Stray Dog - Gareth O'Callaghan
  
  ### Books published in the fifth series
  
  Mrs. Whippy - Cecelia Ahern
  
  'Mad Weekend - Roddy Doyle
  
  Behind Closed Doors - Sarah Webb Secrets - Patricia Scanlan
  
  Not a Star - Nick Hornby
  
  The Underbury Witches - John Connolly
  
  