This year’s shortlist for the revered Man Booker novel prize had good news and disappointment for Irish writers. Sally Rooney — considered a favourite — and Donal Ryan didn’t, for the judges, make the grade, while Belfast’s Anna Burns did.

Author Sally Rooney says it is a privilege and an honour to be nominated for the Man Booker Prize - before her novel has even been published.

Sometimes it pays to take chances, experiment and venture outside traditional comfort zones.