Mullingar-based writer, Anne Griffin, may have missed out on first prize in the Emerging Fiction category at the 45th Hennessy Literary Awards, but her spirit has clearly not been dampened.
Anne was short listed with just five other people from all over the country for the acclaimed prize and was still in high spirits when Topic caught up with her last week.
Anne spoke passionately about how the awards and others of its kind, encourage writers to pursue their literary goals. “Ciaran Carty, who has been running the awards since the 1980s, gave an amazing speech around the importance of the awards and about the people over the years who have been part of them and have gone on to do great things.”
The judges were Ciaran Carty and esteemed writers Paul Perry and Hugo Hamilton.
Hugo, who was a recipient of the award 30 years ago, presented the award for Emerging Fiction while another former winner Paul, presented the award for Emerging Poetry. Paul spoke about his own experience of winning the award and spoke about the high quality of the pieces submitted this year.
From the three category winners, Ríona Judge McCormack was named the Hennessy New Irish Writer 2016 for her piece ‘Some Strange Moon’.
In her acceptance speech, Ríona spoke about how she was on the verge of giving up writing until she saw the email from Ciaran Carty to say that she had been shortlisted.
“That was very emotional,” said Anne. “Ríona spoke very eloquently about the very lonely world of writing and when you’re writing you sometimes just don’t know whether you’re any good at this or not.”
Anne said that even though she didn’t win on the night, the fact that she was shortlisted has given her a huge boost. “To see my work in the Irish Times last year made me think, ‘Well, there must be something here’ and made me want to keep going.”
So what does the future hold for the author?
“I’m set to be published in a journal in a Belfast publication called ‘The Incubator’ and a publication called ‘“From the Well”.
Anne said the awards were very important, especially to those who are just starting their career. “A lot of the great Irish writers got their first break through the Hennessy. It does so much for writers. I know everybody in my MA class is gunning for the Hennessy now and it gives such confidence and it’s incredible what doors it opens up for you just personally.
The awards are a wonderful outlet for emerging writers and really encourage you to just keep going.”
