Michael Longley shortlisted for $65,000 Griffin Poetry Prize

Irish poet on Griffin shortlist

The Belfast poet Michael Longley is one of seven nominees shortlisted for the 2015 Griffin Poetry Prize. Based in Canada, the Griffin is one of the world’s most generous literary awards, with two winning prizes of C$65,000 (€48,000) each and an additional $10,000 awarded to each shortlisted poet. A Canadian prize is given to a living poet resident in Canada, with the other prize going to an international poet. Both prizes may include works in translation. Judges are selected annually by trustees Margaret Atwood, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson and David Young. This year’s judges Tim Bowling (Canada), Fanny Howe (USA) and Piotr Sommer (Poland) each read 560 books of poetry, from 42 countries, including 24 translations. The four international shortlisted poets are Michael Longley for The Stairwell (Ireland); Wang Xiaoni’s Something Crossed My Mind (China), translated by Eleanor Goodman; Finite Formulae & Theories of Chance by Wioletta Greg (Poland), translated by Marek Kazmierski; and The Road to Emmaus by Spencer Reece (USA). The Canadian shortlist features Congotronic by Shane Book, Blue Sonoma by Jane Munro and Russell Thornton’s The Hundred Lives. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the winners will be announced in June.

Ninety books on €25,000 Frank O’Connor longlist

Seven Irish authors have been longlisted for the 2015 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the single biggest prize in the world for a collection of short stories. They aren't kidding when they call it a longlist, by the way. There are 90 titles and authors listed, making it longer than some short stories. Four of the nominations are for debut collections, including Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett, Staying Thin for Daddy by Deirdre Brennan, Over Our Heads by Andrew Fox and Paul O'Reilly's The Girl Missing from the Window. They join Michael J Farrell (Life Here Below), Órfhlaith Foyle for her second collection, Clemency Browne Dreams of Gin, and Kildare author Martin Malone (Deadly Confederacies and Other Stories). This year's list features plenty of international literary talent with Margaret Atwood's Stone Mattress, Richard Ford's fourth Bascombe book Let me be Frank with You, Honeydew by Edith Pearlman and the Scottish author Janice Galloway's Jellyfish among the contenders. Announced in July, the 11th winner of this annual award will receive €25,000. The 2014 award was won by Colin Barrett for his debut collection Young Skins.

Sci-fi awards for Irish writers

The Irish author Ruth Frances Long has won the award for Best Creator of Children’s Science Fiction and Fantasy at this year’s European Science Fiction Convention. The 37th annual awards ceremony took place in St. Petersburg, Russia on April 26th. The Dublin author received a Spirit of Dedication Award, chosen by participants in national sci-fi conventions around Europe on the basis of works exhibited or presented. Long shares the overall Best Author award with the Russian illustrator Anton Lomaev. Writing for both adults and young adult readers, Long’s latest book, A Crack in Everything (O’Brien Press), is a YA fantasy heavily influenced by Irish mythology set between modern day Dublin and the dark underworld of Dubh Linn. Other Irish winners on the night included Best Dramatic Presentation for Cartoon Saloon’s Song of the Sea and an Encouragement Award for fantasy fiction reviewer and blogger Liz Bourke.

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