From my hotline to Cork - which I left yesterday morning after a wonderful time launching my book Nude - I have just learnt that author Simon Van Booy has won the 2009 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award with his book Love Begins in Winter.
I have reviewed his book (forthcoming in The Short Review) and I can vouch for its wonderfulness.
Huge congrats to Simon, who lives in New York, and is a genuinely sweet, nice, mildly eccentric guy, as well as a skilled and fabulous writer. He told me he plays fiddle for his 5 year old daughter, who has recently developed a passion for Irish dancing, and it seemed such a cute but wholly characteristic thing for him to do.
I am sad of course for the other excellent shortlisted writers who I spent time with over the few days: Petina, Philip, Shi-li, Charlotte and Wells. It was an incredibly strong shortlist and I would not have liked to try to pick a winner from those six.
6 comments:
Congratulations, Simon! We'll be running your review in the October issue, and trying to catch the Winning Author for a quick interview if possible.
I recommended to him to just dash off the answers. He may be overthinking it all!!! ;-)
Of course now he'll be IN DEMAND. Sigh.
Congratulations to Simon and commiserations to the runners-up...I've been guessing and guessing as to who would win and couldn't pick one winner myself!
Ahat is this "IN DEMAND"? I've never heard of it!!
I'm not sure 'in demand' is such a great state of being, Rachel. I am run ragged with promo for Nude and I am just SO tired. Writers don't get maternity leave, sadly. I need a holiday!
He is a darling, Simon. That part of me that is not thinking of plunging into the River Lee is really happy for him. Really, it could not have gone to a nicer chap:)
Petina
P - on another day with differnet judges, you would have won it. One is not comparing like with like at all and you have written a stunning, super book. N x
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