Ballinasloe-based author Nuala O’Connor has been shortlisted for the prestigious Writing.ie Short Story of the Year Award for her story Consolata.
Taken from her collection Joyride to Jupiter, the story was first published in the UK literary magazine Granta.
From a shortlist of six stories, a panel of adjudicators combined with a public vote will select the winner, who will be presented with their award at a gala ceremony at Dublin’s Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, on Tuesday, November 28.
The six shortlisted stories are published in full on Writing.ie so that the public can read them and vote. Public voting is open until November 23.
The Irish Times called Joyride to Jupiter, Nuala’s latest collection, "skilfully crafted fictions" and said that "the blending of wry, caustic irreverence and meditative poignancy is central to the success of O’Connor’s storytelling".
Nuala’s shortlisted story centres on the character Helen, on a return visit to the orchard home where she grew up, and her memories of childhood dealings with a young nun from the convent next door.
The Sunday Independent said of the story: "Consolata is a real shocker. But it shimmies along with such impeccable restraint that it’s impossible to see what’s coming next."
