Writing.ie Short Story of the Year Longlist 2019 Revealed

The standard of stories submitted to the An Post Irish Book Awards Writing.ie Short Story of the Year was incredibly high this year – with a substantial number of entries. To reflect that, this year we have longlisted fourteen stories. Judges Alison Lyons, Director of Dublin City of Literature, Bob Johnston of The Gutter Bookshop and Literary Agent Simon Trewin will be now decide on the short list of authors who will be invited to the An Post Irish Book Awards gala dinner on 20th November as guests of Writing.ie.

The short list will be announced on 24th October 2019, when the stories will be published on Writing.ie and the public will be invited to vote for their favourite story. The winning story will then be announced on 20th November 2019 at the An Post Irish Book Awards gala dinner, which will be televised by RTE.

The long listed authors are as follows (in no particular order) – authors: in order to keep the judging anonymous throughout, please don’t share the title of your story!

David Butler

Louise Kennedy

Nuala O’Connor

Caoilinn Hughes

Niall McArdle

Peter J Walsh

Nicole Flattery

Yan Ge

Laura-Blaise McDowell

Orla McAlinden

Ken McGrath

Laura Blaise

Andrea Carter

Amy Gaffney

Highly Commended

Ethel Rohan: Everywhere She Went, from The Irish Times

Ronan Ryan: The Conscience Round, Banshee Press

Deirdre Sullivan: Skein, from The Dublin Review

Lucy Sweeney Byrne: Montparnasse, from Paris Syndrome (Banshee Press)

Sharon Blackie: Foxfire from Foxfire, Wolfskin and Other Stories of Shapeshifting Women (September Publishing)

Clare O’Dea: The Obituary, from The Nottingham Review

Wishing everyone the very best of luck!