From Short Stories to Debut Novels with John Patrick McHugh & Nicole Flattery, chaired by Mia Colleran Ó Ghearrscéalta go dtí do Chéad Úrscéal – John Patrick McHugh agus Nicole Flattery, faoi chathaoirleacht Mia Colleran   John Patrick McHugh has slowly been building a name for himself over several years as a short story writer, publishing his work in literary journals such as The Stinging Fly, Granta and Winter Papers. His debut collection Pure Gold is set on a fictional island, partly inspired by Achill, where his mother hails from. As a person battling with dyslexia, he has overcome it to produce not only his own fine work but has been rated by his friend Sally Rooney as an invaluable editor and advisor to her.   Stinging Fly editor Tom Morris was instrumental in connecting McHugh with Rooney and two other budding talents, Nicole Flattery and Michael Nolan, to support and mentor each other. Flattery joins McHugh for this event to discuss their work.   After completing her studies at Trinity College – theatre and film with a Master’s in creative writing – Nicole Flattery made a name for herself as a writer of short-stories, gaining a following through works published in the Stinging Fly, White Review, Dublin Review, and Winter Papers. In 2017, she won the prestigious White Review Short Story Prize for her story Track, and on the back of that success signed a reported six-figure, two-book deal with Bloomsbury. Her first collection of short stories Show Them A Good Time was published by The Stinging Fly Press in February 2019.   This astonishing collection of stories draws the reader into a world at once familiar and deliciously strange – the world of a fictional island community off the coast of County Mayo. With an unflinching eye for injustice, cruelty and self-deceit, McHugh nonetheless approaches his cast of characters with a sincere and intelligent compassion. These stories bring to life not only the individual lives of human people, but the collective life of a whole community. In exquisite and arresting prose, this collection makes it clear that John Patrick McHugh is one of the most exciting writers working in Ireland today. — SALLY ROONEY   A returned emigrant struggles to get her life back on track in the grim little town she previously couldn’t wait to leave; two beleaguered students take to the stage in a desperate bid to assert their autonomy; a school teacher gamely keeps on searching for love or distraction as the world teeters towards ruin. The characters in Nicole Flattery’s magnificently accomplished stories are haunted as much by the future as they are by their pasts. Loaded with dark humour and chock-full of style, Show Them A Good Time marks the arrival of an exuberant and strikingly original new writer. ‘I truly love and admire Nicole Flattery’s writing. Show Them a Good Time is a masterclass in the short story – bold, irreverent and agonisingly funny – and it does full justice to its author’s immense talent.’ — Sally Rooney ‘Demands repeated reading. These stories are very funny, and very sad, usually at the same time. Which, as Flattery shows us brilliantly, is the best time.’ — Jon McGregor ‘Smart as a whip, unusual, and very very funny, Flattery’s distinctive prose is a real treat.’ — Claire-Louise Bennett   Mia Colleran is an assistant editor at 4th Estate. She is an award-winning bookseller and writer, has worked at numerous book festivals and previously she reviewed books for The Irish Times, Guardian and Irish Independent among others. Mia is a fluent Irish speaker.   For more information on Dingle Literary Festival find us online at https://dinglelit.ie/ Catch us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dingleliteraryfestival/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dingle.lit/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw