Sea, Sun and Short Stories

I am absolutely delighted to announce that my short story Deeper Than It Looks has placed second in the Write By The Sea Kilmore Quay Short Story Competition.

The winner is the fabulous Jay McKenzie, not only a phenomenal writer but also a dear friend and writing companion to whom I owe so much. To stand in her shadow is nothing short of an honour. I had the pleasure of reading her winning story Flaunt, which will be published in The Waxed Lemon — and there could be no more deserving winner.

Third prize went to Suzanne Stich for her story Republic of Pigeons. To find myself in such company makes the recognition all the more meaningful.

Deeper Than It Looks is a story about friendship, silence, and the hidden weight of grief. It grew out of memory and conversation, and though it’s only a few pages long, it carries much of what I’ve been trying to explore in my fiction: how we talk (or don’t talk) about loss, masculinity, and the fragile bonds between us.

Competitions are never the reason I write, but they offer little jolts of encouragement along what is often a lonely road. To have this story acknowledged feels like another small step forward.

The Write By The Sea festival itself is a celebration of words and community on the Wexford coast — and the line-up this year is staggering. I can’t wait to head down and be part of it!