Patrick Holloway won first prize with his wonderful short story,’The Language of Remembering’ in our 2023 Award, judged by Farhana Shaikh. We’re very excited to announce that his debut novel, with the same title, was published at the end of last month by Epoque Press. and is available from their store, bookshops and from Amazon. The novel extends the story of the short story’s protagaonist, Oisin, and here’s a brief summary:

“The Language of Remembering is a novel that explores the ways memories can construe an identity and what it means to call a place a home. Brigid and Oisin embark on a journey of personal discovery, and as past traumas are exposed, they begin to understand what has shaped them and who they really are. The Language of Remembering asks how we connect to the people we love and how we move on from the past to find meaning in the present.”

The novel was reviewed in the Irish Times earlier this month and here’s an extract from the review:

All writers are hunters after the right word, and Holloway ensnares the best. The ordinary enough family story, its light and shade, unfolds convincingly and enthrallingly, in rich, agile prose…Holloway is the real deal. He’s a true novelist and this is an utterly readable book of real depth.

Team member Alison Woodhouse interviewed Patrick in January 2024 where he talks more about writing this novel, the value of writing competitions and gives a tip for prospective entrants to our Award.

We’ve ordered The Language of Remembering to include on the shelf of books published by past winners, very much look forward to reading it and wish it every success.

If you are in Dublin this Thursday, 27th March there is a book launch of The Language of Remembering introduced by Mary 0’Donnell in Books Upstairs at 6.00 pm. Hope you can get there!

If you want to enter this year’s Award, it closes one week today, on March 31st. We love to read your stories and also to learn what happens next to our winners and listed writers.

Jude Higgins BSSA team member