03 January, 2024
Novel Fair 2024: Runners-Up & Highly Commended
In December 2023, we announced the twelve emerging writers selected for Novel Fair 2024, as selected by the judging panel Sharmilla Beezmohun, Eoin McHugh, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Susan Tomaselli. The panel additionally selected twelve runners-up and twelve highly commended as follows. These writers will receive a short critique of their work from one of the judges.
Judge Eoin McHugh observed:
“Reading through so many well written, diverse and engaging pieces of fiction was a pleasure. Judging between the many submissions, however, was no easy task, especially given the fine quality of the work. The winning selection offers clear evidence of the strength and range of talent coming through and to the fact that we can all look forward to some great reading in the near future.”
Novel Fair 2024: Runners-Up & Highly Commended
Runners-up
Roof Knocking by Raymond Dolphin
Laundry Day by Delphine Gauthier-Georgakopoulos
The Cure for Bleeding by Siobhan Hoy
Conor’s Skeleton by Shane Leavy
The Breeders by Freya McClements
The Playboy of West Belfast by Paul McMahon
Missed Connections by Ciara Mullaney
Too Soon For Snowdrops by Linda O’Sullivan
The Talents by Jamie Samson
The Descent by Aoife Sheehan
So Beautiful or So What by Tom Tierney
The Hanny Simulation by Mairead Whelan
Highly Commended
Bordered Hearts by Aneesa Agha
Face the Darkness by Cormac Culkeen
Traumadors by Ita Delogu
Forest on the Edge by Aleks Koutny
The Translator by Dalia Kuoraite
When the Boys Come out to Play by John Mackel
Occupied Space by Sophie Moran
Copperopolis by Carolyn Morgan
Confluence by Mary O’Sullivan
Loved Up by Jerome P Sullivan
Blood Floral by Claire Shevlin
Origins by Ailsa Spindler
Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair
The Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair, now in its twelfth year, is an annual competition that introduces twelve up-and-coming writers to top publishers and literary agents, giving novelists the opportunity to bypass the slush pile, pitch their ideas and place their synopsis and sample chapters directly into the hands of publishers and agents. At the annual Novel Fair 2-day event, winners will engage in a speed-dating-style set-up where each writer is given the opportunity to pitch their novel to approximately 20 publishers and agents.
Submissions to IWC Novel Fair are open annually during September (the next submissions period will be Sunday 1st September 2024 – Monday 30th September 2024) and will require applicants to submit a 10,000-word extract of the novel, as well as a 300-word plot synopsis. Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world.
Find out more about the Novel Fair here.
