Authors book their place for Irish Book Awards

There was huge excitement yesterday as Ireland’s authors gathered at the Bord Gáis Theatre for the announcement of the shortlist for the Irish Book Awards 2015.

Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, delighted to be involved with the awards after a five-year absence, said the standard this year was higher than ever.

Started 10 years ago with three categories, the awards have grown year on year. The addition, this year, of a new category for popular non-fiction, brings it up to 13.

Over 45,000 booklovers voted last year, and the ceremony has grown too. The awards, to be presented on November 25 at a glittering gala dinner, are held in Dublin’s Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, with highlights recorded, and shown on RTÉ.

Clonakilty native Louise O’Neill, winner of last year’s Newcomer Award, was thrilled to clock up two nominations for her second young adult novel, Asking For It. Anne Enright’s The Green Road also received two nominations, and Kevin Barry, who, along with Anne is nominated for the Eason Book Club Novel of the Year Award, is also up for the writing.ie short story award.

It’s not all about winning. Writer John Boyne, a winner and multi-time nominee, stressed how important such events are for mixing with other writers.

Sinead Moriarty, nominated for the eighth time, said she’s quite happy being the bridesmaid. Though should number eight be as lucky for her as it was for last year’s winner Cecelia Ahern, clearly she’ll be delighted.

You can vote for all the #BGEIBA shortlisted books on https://t.co/QlTtyJxETQ - the authors would love your support! pic.twitter.com/KUZh9rJArm

— An Post Irish Book Awards (@IrishBookAward) November 4, 2015

Cecelia is back for the ninth time. She and Sinead are joined in the popular fiction category by first-time nominees Kate Kerrigan and Kate Beaufoy.

“I’m thrilled,” says Kate Beaufoy, who used to write romantic novels under her own name, Kate Thompson. “It’s a real affirmation and makes sense of my change to historical fiction.”

JP Donleavy gets the Lifetime Achievement Award, an honour bestowed on Edna O’Brien in 2009. This year she’s shortlisted for the Novel of the Year. I asked her son, Carlo Gebler, shortlisted for The Projectionist, how he felt being up for an award in the same year as his mother. “I didn’t know,” he said, looking confused.

To vote go to www.bgeirishbookawards.ie