Beginner’s pluck: Artist and writer Brendan Mac Evilly

'Deep Burn' is an absorbing novel, based in the world of conceptual art, it examines obsession, fame, and envy

Brendan Mac Evilly: 'I wrote 'Deep Burn' during lockdown — mostly in bed with my wife, with our baby between us.' Picture: David McGovern

At 11, Brendan was joint winner of a writing competition. And at around 16, his teacher said one of his stories was good enough to get published.

“That was a ‘wow’ moment,” he says. “But I decided to study commerce instead.”

By his final year at college, he had decided to work with books.

He contacted Declan Meade of The Stinging Fly and read some submission stories — returning after his MA to work there for two days a week.

“I had an idea for a novel. Eventually, I wrote it and gained my agent but it came to nothing.”

Meanwhile, he began to work for Publishing Ireland before moving to England to work for Oxford University Press.

He stayed for three years, meeting his wife there, but returned and worked for the Irish Writers Centre.

In 2014, I had an idea for a swimming book.

“I wrote At Swim, A Book About The Sea quickly, travelling around the country.”

In 2019, Brendan became director and co-editor of Holy Show — an annual arts journal and production company. He has been published in The Stinging Fly, The Guardian, and The Irish Times, among others.

He adds: “I wrote Deep Burn during lockdown — mostly in bed with my wife, with our baby between us.”

Who is Brendan Mac Evilly?

Date/place of birth: 1984/ Dublin.

Education: Coláiste Ēanna, Rathfarnham; University College Dublin — English, philosophy, and economics; MA in arts management.

Home: Dublin.

Family: Wife Hannah Lloyd and five-year-old daughter Nora.

The day job: Artist. “I’m making ceramics of the objects in the novel.”

In another life: “I’d be an architect. I love visualising vacant spaces.”

Favourite writers: Muriel Spark, Iris Murdoch, Rachel Kushner, Rachel Cusk, Elena Ferrante, Roald Dahl.

Second novel: “An idea for a novel has come very recently. I’m also writing a personal essay on pyromania.”

Top tip: Don’t procrastinate.

Website: www.bmacevilly.com

Instagram: @BrendanMacev

The debut

Deep Burn

Marrowbone Books, €16

Abandoned by her husband, Mollie escapes to Kerry, where, moving in with Vinnie, a fading artist, she starts photographing fire — burning objects people don’t want. 

Her career escalates but where will it end? And what effect will her success have on Vinnie? 

This absorbing novel, based in the world of conceptual art, examines obsession, fame, and envy.

Verdict: A highly original literary gem.