Shortlist unveiled for ‘New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize’ in association with the An Post Irish Book Awards
100+ writers from the Irish based Ukrainian community entered original short stories,
essays or poems in new competition and six have now been shortlisted
The shortlist has been unveiled for ‘New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize’ which, this year, focuses on the Irish based Ukrainian community.
This new writing competition was introduced for this year’s awards, inviting new and established writers from the Irish based Ukrainian community aged 16+ to compose a new and original short story, essay or poem in either English or Ukrainian describing their experiences of flight and exile in no more than 1,000 words.
Entries received covered a broad range of themes including the difficulties of abandoning one’s home to flee violence and destruction and the experience of settling in a new country. However, in the midst of these stories of hardship, there was hope, with many writers sharing the kindness and support of strangers and the establishment of new friendships where they had settled. These connections provided these writers with the strength to rebuild their life.
Over 100 entries were received for the new writing competition with six writers now shortlisted. They will be invited to attend the An Post Irish Book Awards ceremony at the Convention Centre, Dublin on the 22nd November where the overall winner will be announced.
The shortlisted writers are:
- Anna Hodovychenko from Letterfrack, Co Galway with 3465 days / 3465 днів
- Borys Koval from Dublin with The Way from War to Peace. The Valley of Gratitude / Шлях від війни до Миру. Алея вдячності
- Lyudmila Boyko from Dublin with Ode to volunteers / Ода волонтерам
- Olga Kitik from Letterkenny, Co Donegal with Memories License / Ліцензія на спогади
- Tetiana Petrukhnova from Dublin with The Leap / Стрибок
- Valeriia Shmyrova from Dublin with The Border / Кордон
The winner will be presented with an official An Post Irish Book Awards trophy and a €500 voucher to use in creative writing courses at the Irish Writers Centre. The five other shortlisted writers will each receive a €100 voucher for the Irish Writers Centre which can be used for a variety of writing courses.
Now in its 18th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. Each year it brings together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of Irish writing talent.
The awards feature a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 19 categories, including Novel of the Year, Children, Cookbook, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Non-fiction, Sports, Lifestyle, Short Story, Irish language, Poem, Newcomer, Teen and Young Adult, Irish Published and Biography.
To tie in with the announcement of the An Post Irish Book Awards shortlist, the public are now being asked to have their say and cast their votes online for the best books of the year on the An Post Irish Book Awards website anpostirishbookawards.ie/vote. All voters will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five €100 National Book Tokens vouchers. Voters may cast their votes from 7pm on 19th October until voting closes on 9th November at 5:00pm.
Meanwhile, a one-hour television special, hosted by Oliver Callan, will be broadcast on RTÉ One on 6th December giving viewers an exclusive insight into the six books and the authors competing for the accolade of ‘An Post Irish Book Awards Book of the Year 2023’, culminating in the reveal of this year’s overall winner.
The hugely successful #ReadersWanted campaign will also continue this year by An Post, celebrating the value and joy of reading and encouraging everyone to pick up more books, more often. Simply search the hashtag online to get involved.
Brendan Corbett, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, says:
“We are delighted this category was introduced to give new and established writers in the Ukrainian based Irish community an opportunity to share new and original work which gives us a very real and personal insight into their stories of flight and exile. We would like to thank everyone who entered and shared their experiences with us through the written word. This shortlist displays the sheer writing talent we have in this country and our incredible literary community which is constantly evolving and growing. I look forward to meeting all the shortlisted writers at the awards ceremony on the 22nd November and wish them all the very best of luck.”
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, says:
“It is exciting to be able to use the platform of the An Post Irish Book Awards to introduce new writing. Even more so to share the work of Ukrainian writers as they navigate their experiences of war, exile and working to build new lives here. Our hope is that the works of these writers leads to a better understanding of Ukraine and contributes, in some way, towards the healing of those hurt by war.”
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For a range of reading recommendations, check out www.anpost.com/readerswanted
