Friday 2 December 2011

OF PRAIRIE SCHOONERS AND PUSHCARTS


I'm off to Dublin tomorrow for The Peers, my writing group's, Xmas do. We normally meet in my house in Ballinasloe but every December we decamp to Patrick Chapman's place in Dublin for seasonal cheer. We work first - three hours of workshopping - then head to Ciao Bella Roma for lovely Italian food, then to who-knows-where for drinkies. I can't wait. My group are utterly brilliant: talented, uncompromising and fun. I learn something new with them every month.

I used to only bring poetry to the group but I've been writing so little poetry this year that I have been workshopping chunks of stories and it has been really interesting. It's amazing what you don't see in your own work sometimes (and I consider myself a pretty good self editor).

Anyway, all of this is a pre-amble to what I feel a bit shy about saying and that is that I heard today that one of my stories has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. I know little about the Pushcart but having googled it, it looks fairly top notch. So I'm chuffed.

The story is called 'Peach' and it will be in the December issue of Prairie Schooner. While I'm at it I may as well tell you that the nice people at Prairie Schooner are having me over to Nebraska for their two-day launch event in February which is, as a Nebraskan (or my 9 year old) might say, awesome!

Have I mentioned that I love short stories and all the good things they bring to my life?

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is so cool, Nuala! I was wondering about the Irish issue of PS. Nebraska will be cold in February. Dry ice cold. Congratulations.

Ethel Rohan said...

Dear Nuala,

This is terrific news, congratulations! Prairie Schooner is such a great magazine. You should be thoroughly chuffed and celebrate hard. Brava.

Anonymous said...

Wooop! Congrats Nuala, and enjoy your Dublin day tomorrow. :)

Group 8 said...

Thanks a million, ladies. Blush blush.

Eimear - good luck at your reading tomorrow. Sorry it is clashing with my workshop. N x

shaunag said...

Oh Nuala I am so so thrilled for you. What wonderful news!! Huge congrats!And roll on Nebraska sounds awesome!!

Ann said...

Congratulations on your nomination! That is so exciting!!

Have a wonderful time at your Xmas do! Sounds like a real treat!

Kar said...

whoop! Whoop! WHOOP! Congrats pet, that's great news.

And have a great time at the Peer's Christmas party...
x

Group 8 said...

Thank you Shauna and Ann for your good wishes!

Group 8 said...

Karen - thank you :) :) :)

Ev said...

Nuala, thrilled for you, well done you!

Mel u said...

Congrats on your nomination and I hope you win-looking forward to our tour on Dec 8

Órfhlaith Foyle said...

That's brilliant Nuala! Congratulations!

Jose Varghese said...

Congratulations for the Pushcart nominations! I hope you win as well!

Afric McGlinchey said...

Congratulations Nuala!!! Well deserved and have a ball in Nebraska.

Afric McGlinchey said...

Congrats Nuala! So exciting. And have a ball in Nebraska!

Seracle said...

Fantastic, Nuala! And so well deserved.

Seracle said...

Fantastic, Nuala! And so well deserved.

Words A Day said...

Thats all wonderful - congratulations on the Pushcart nomination! And the publication...enjoy your xmas do:)

Aoife.Troxel said...

Congratulations! Sounds like you'll be having fun in Dublin and Nebraska.

M.Costello said...

Nuala, this is fantastic- big Congrats! The Pushcart is a very big deal in the US. Best of luck

Tania Hershman said...

How brilliant, congratulations! And wonderful about the Nebraska trip, yes, wrap up warm :)

Rachel Fenton said...

Thrilled for you, missus - utterly superb x

Vanessa Gebbie said...

Oooh catching up here - what amazing things are happening! Lovely stuff, many congrats... x

dan powell said...

Congratulations on the nomination and enjoy the trip to Nebraska. Great stuff.

Group 8 said...

Cheers, Dan :)