Catherine O'Flynn

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Catherine O'Flynn, born in 1970, is a British writer. Her novel, What Was Lost, won the prestigious First Novel prize at the Costa Book Awards in 2008.

[edit] Biography

Prior to the publication of What Was Lost she worked in a variety of jobs including deputy manager of a large record shop, postwoman, web editor, teacher and mystery shopper.[1] After spending some time in and around Barcelona, she now lives and works in Birmingham, England.

Her first novel, What Was Lost, was published in January 2007. This novel received critical acclaim as an examination of the often lacklustre and empty experience of modern life, contrasted with the energy and optimism of a young girl who went missing in the mid-1980s.[2] What Was Lost was longlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize for Fiction and the Orange Prize for Fiction, and shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award.[3][4] It won the Jelf Group First Novel Award at the Guildford Book Festival and the prestigious First Novel prize at the Costa Book Awards in January 2008.[5][6] In April 2008 she was named Newcomer of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Smith. "A Path Less Published", Transition Tradition, 2007-03-07. Retrieved on 2008-01-11. 
  2. ^ Anderson, Hephzibah. "Now you see her, now you don't", The Observer, 2007-01-28. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. 
  3. ^ Saunders, Kate. "What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn", The Times, 2007-08-08. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. 
  4. ^ Ezard, John. "Guardian award highlights good year for first-time writers", The Guardian, 2007-08-24. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. 
  5. ^ Flood, Alison. "O'Flynn wins Jelf Group award", The Bookseller, 2007-10-31. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. 
  6. ^ Alberge, Dayla. "Rejected author has last laugh", The Times, 2008-01-03. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.