Cocaine exposé shortlisted for book award
The High Society by Justine Delaney Wilson, which failed to name those whom it alleged were taking drugs, is one of four nominated in the non-fiction section of the awards. Among her competitors for the title is Irish Examiner columnist Diarmaid Ferriter for his book Judging Dev. The same work is nominated in both the published book of the year and Tubridy Show Listeners’ Choice award categories.
In all there are nine categories in the awards open to all Irish authors who had a book published during the last 12 months.
In the novel category, authors Ann Enright and Joe O’Connor are among those vying for the title, while Ross O’Carroll Kelly is in the running for the popular fiction award and published book of the year for This Champagne Mojito is the Last Thing I Own and Ross O’Carroll Kelly’s Guide to South Dublin respectively.
The sports category will be between books on golf, GAA and rugby. Padraig Harrington’s account of his journey to the British Open is among the leaders.
The shortlist emerged from a ballot of more than 300 Irish booksellers and librarians.
The majority of the final awards will be chosen, through a voting process, by the Irish Literary Academy.
Alistair Giles, director of the Irish Book Awards, said he was delighted with the reception that the Irish Book Awards had received from both the public and the literary community as a whole.
The award winners will be announced at a gala event in the Mansion House in Dublin on April 24, 2008.
The full list of nominees can be found on www.irishbookawards.ie.
