In this session of Writer to Writer, international award-winning Irish author Nuala O’Connor discusses SEABORNE, her latest novel, the craft and practice of writing, and neurodivergence with Jennifer McMahon, our co-EIC.
Nuala O’Connor lives in Galway, Ireland. Her sixth novel SEABORNE, about Irish-born pirate Anne Bonny, was published in April 2024 by New Island. Her novel NORA (New Island), about Nora Barnacle and James Joyce, was a Top 10 historical novel in the New York Times. She won Irish Short Story of the Year at the 2022 Irish Book Awards and is editor at flash e-journal Splonk.
And a correction: Jennifer mentioned the Francis O’Connor Award - she of course meant the Francis MacManus Award.
SEABORNE, from which Nuala read, is available to order from New Island, and from all the usual places.
Also mentioned: Nuala’s award-winning novel NORA, about Nora Barnacle and James Joyce. It was a Top 10 historical novel in the New York Times.
Great discussion - how much of history we can know and how what is known informs what we write; neurodivergence; how we become a person; endings and finding out what we're writing about. And thank you for the phrase word-hoarding. As a fellow neurodivergent writer, I'm right with you on first person present tense, Nuala - and finding yourself anew with each book.