Daydream believer Heather O'Neil to make guest appearance at Cork Short Story Festival

Canadian writer Heather O’Neil is one of the overseas guests at this week’s Cork International Short Story Festival, writes Richard Fitzpatrick.

THE novels and short stories of Heather O’Neill are suffused with the spirit of Quebec, and especially her hometown Montreal, a bohemian city where hipster cafés and art galleries sit side-by-side with trashy strip joints.

The writer says there’s no escaping the effect the harsh winter has on its denizens. “I always tell people no matter how cold you imagine it can be, the Montreal winter is just insane. At the same time, it creates this really fun, communal atmosphere. You feel like ‘We’re all surviving the winter together’.