I will conduct a public interview with American author Valerie Trueblood who is shortlisted for this year’s Frank O’Connor Short Story Award, on Friday the 16th September at 3pm, Metropole Hotel, Cork, as part of the Cork Short Story Festival.
Valerie is a stunning writer. I have been bowled over by her collection Marry or Burn and it really stands out for me on the shortlist of six, which includes books by Colm Tóibín and Yiyun Li. She also has a novel in stories called Seven Loves which has received the praise of Elizabeth Strout, author of the wonderful Olive Kitteridge. Seven Loves is another rich display of Valerie's story-telling skills; it follows the life of the feisty May through all sorts of major events: an affair she has, the death of her son, a stroke. It's really funny and moving, a fabulous book.
Overall Valerie's work is intelligent, layered, witty and deep. We've been emailing each other and she is the loveliest peson too. I am so looking forward to meeting her in the flesh and I wish her the best of luck on Sunday night at the awards ceremony.
3 comments:
Enjoy the interview, I look forward to hearing about it afterwards.
Good Luck to Valerie on Sunday..
and I'm off now for a little treat of her book teehheee I can't wait. It's been an age since I bought a book and I've looking for something wonderful to catch my attention, you've done just that. Thanks Nu
Wish I could see that interview. Best of luck to Valerie.
Thanks ladies. Looking forward to meeting her tonight :)
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