Big Girl Small Town shortlisted for the Kate O'Brien award

Covers of Kate O’Brien award 2021 shortlisted books

Covers of Kate O’Brien award 2021 shortlisted books

Big Girl Small Town has been shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien award alongside some of my favourite books from the past year (I’ve read 5 of these books):

  • The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donoghue

  • Oona by Alice Lyons

  • A Quiet Tide by Marianne Lee

  • As You Were by Elaine Feeney

  • Big Girl Small Town by Michelle Gallen

  • This Happy by Niamh Campbell

There are normally just 4 books on the shortlist. But judge Vivienne McKechnie commented that “with so many submissions of such high calibre … it was impossible to reduce the shortlist to four and we felt that the six chosen represented the wonderful range of talent emerging in Ireland today.”

The Award will be presented as part of the 37th annual Limerick Literary Festival in Honour of Kate O’Brien, which takes place online from February 26th to 28th.

This shortlist is the dinner party I need right now - I’m hoping a digital author soiree can be arranged 🍹

Michelle Gallen