Sunday 20 September 2009

FRANK O'CONNOR WINNER 2009 ANNOUNCED



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:

Tania Hershman said...

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.

Group 8 said...

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.

Rachel Fenton said...

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!!

Group 8 said...

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!

Petina Gappah said...

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

Group 8 said...

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