live appearances

Reading and Q&A for Uni of Worcester

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by University of Worcester Creative Writing Course

Join us to hear Paul McVeigh read from his novel ‘The Good Son’ and take part in a Q&A about his writing career and creative practice.

7.30 pm

16th February 2021

Free

Register to get sent an online link before the event.

This event is hosted by the Creative Writing course at the University of Worcester.

It is free to attend: designed to enable students, staff and members of the public to access authors reading their work and talking about their creative practice & writing careers.

Please register and you will then be sent the link before the event.

For more information please contact Ruth Stacey: r.stacey@worc.ac.uk

and follow us on Twitter to find out about future events: @uowriting


The Good Son: Won The Polari Prize & The McCrea Literary Award

“The Good Son is a work of genius from a splendid writer.”

Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Olen Butler

“A triumph of storytelling. An absolute gem.” Donal Ryan

Praise for The Good Son:

“The Good Son gave us one of the most engaging protagonists of the year in Mickey Donnelly, who occupies a space between whimsy and horror in Troubles-era Belfast.” Bailey’s Prize-winner Lisa McInerney Top Reads of 2015 The Irish Independent

“When I think of exceptional working-class novels from the last few years, I inevitably think of Kit de Waal’s My Name Is Leon and Paul McVeigh’s The Good Son.” The Observer

“Paul McVeigh has written a first novel of beautiful generosity, poignant in the delicate manner in which he evokes the brutality of an era. A striking fresco, mixing historical upheavals and hardships of a family shattered.” Le Monde

“Blackly hilarious (with) one of the most endearing and charming characters I’ve come across in a long time.” ELLE Magazine Best of 2015

Interviewing Booker Prize-Winner Douglas Stuart at Jaipur

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*Free Event: Interviewing Booker Prize-Winner Douglas Stuart Author of ‘Shuggie Bain’

Although I won’t be travelling to India for the breathtaking Jaipur Literature Festival, I am delighted to be attending virtually to interview the current Booker Prize-Winner Douglas Stuart.

 DIVING DEEP WITH DOUGLAS STUART: THE MANY LAYERS OF SHUGGIE BAIN will take place on Feb 21th at 11.30am GMT.

You can check out the full line-up and resister for events here.

“The Good Son is a work of genius from a splendid writer.”

Pulitzer Prize-Winner Robert Olen Butler

“A triumph of storytelling. An absolute gem.” 

Donal Ryan

Appearing JLF Doha, Qatar

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JLF Doha, Qatar: Dec 12-14

 

I’m excited to be heading to Qatar soon for JLF Doha. Here are my events at the Qatar National Library.

Fri 13th, 6:20 PM TO 7:05 PM, SPECIAL EVENT AREA 

Writing Conflict: Paul McVeigh, Ahmad Dallal, and Prayaag Akbar in conversation

In a world fraught with conflict, eminent writers speak of how they make sense of the disturbances and dystopias around us. Prayaag Akbar’s award-winning novel Leila, adapted into a popular Netflix series, addresses the ongoing conflicts in society. Paul McVeigh’s debut novel, The Good Son, tells the story of the Irish Troubles in turbulent Belfast. Writer and academic Ahmed Dallal has examined the conflicts of the Middle East.

2:55 PM TO 3:40 PM AUDITORIUM

What is Not Said:​​​​​​​ Celebrating the Short Story: Alex Shaw, Kaltam Jabor M. Al-kuwari and Paul McVeigh in conversation

The brevity of short fiction, illuminating transformative moments in life, eliminating all that is unnecessary, takes it to the heart of the reader. A session which investigates and celebrates the form and function of the short story. Conversations and contextual readings featuring Alex Shaw, author of the popular Aidan Snow SAS series, Kaltam Jabor M. Al-kuwari, the first Qatari women to author a collection of short stories, and Paul McVeigh, author of The Good Son and director and co-founder of London Short Story Festival, Paul McVeigh.

 

I hope to see some of you in Doha!

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Visiting Ardoyne Library

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I’ll be returning to Ardoyne Library during Book Week NI. This library was where I would hide from the streets of Ardoyne – the bullies and The Troubles. It’s where I indulged my love for books, as we had none in our house, and I don’t know what I would have done without it! Come along if you can.

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Podcast: JLF London on The Short Story

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Podcast: What Is Not Said: Celebrating the Short Story

Chris Power, Namita Gokhale and Navtej Sarna in conversation with Paul McVeigh. This episode is a live session from JLF London at The British Library, June 19, 2019.

I hope you enjoy this conversation about the short story.

You can read my latest short story, The Swimmers, in Faber’s ‘Being Various’ Anthology of Irish Short Stories.

 

being-various

‘A very impressive tale from a writer I always enjoy reading – a powerful and gripping story’ Storgy

 

Me, John Boyne, Kit de Waal & Roddy Doyle

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Well, this is a corker.

The Politics Of Fiction

Date Saturday 15 June 2019
Time 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price£12 | £10
Venue: The Crescent Arts Centre

A Panel Discussion With Roddy Doyle, John Boyne & Kit De Waal Chaired By Paul McVeigh

Do fiction writers have a responsibility to engage with politics? The line between fiction and nonfiction is constantly blurred, especially in the post-truth climate of today. Fiction reflects the world around us, and the world around us at this particular moment in time is in crisis: politically, socially and culturally.

And so, in this tumultuous political climate, this panel will raise, and attempt to answer questions such as, whether fiction writers hold a responsibility to engage with and write about politics?; whether fiction can affect politics?; and whether all fiction is political?

Making up stories is an inherently political act, but that doesn’t mean that the stories are about politics. Does fiction have the ability to change minds? Come and enter into the conversation with these four writers as they discuss and shed light upon a question of pressing importance.

Hope to see some of you there.

Appearing at NAWE Conference

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Paul McVeigh to read at the NAWE Conference

‘Paul McVeigh will be the guest reader, in York, on Saturday 9 November 2019.

Paul’s debut novel, The Good Son, won The Polari First Novel Prize and The McCrea Literary Award and was shortlisted for many others including the Prix du Roman Cezam.

Paul wrote plays and comedy with his shows touring the UK and Ireland including the Edinburgh Festival and London’s West End. His short stories have been in The Irish Times, The London Magazine, Faber’s ‘Being Various’, Kit de Waal’s ‘Common People’, on BBC Radio 3, 4 & 5 and Sky Arts. He co-founded the London Short Story Festival.

Paul also writes for The Irish Times and his work has been translated into seven languages.’

“I devoured it in a day, but I’ve thought about it for many, many more.”
Bailey’s Prize-winner Lisa McInerney
“A triumph of storytelling. An absolute gem.”
Donal Ryan

JLF London at British Library

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What Is Not Said: Celebrating the Short Story

Ashok Ferrey, Chris Power, Namita Gokhale and Navtej Sarna in conversation with Paul McVeigh

The brevity of short fiction, illuminating transformative moments in life, eliminating all that is unnecessary, takes it to the heart of the reader. A session that investigates and celebrates the form and function of the short story. Conversations and contextual readings featuring Ashok Ferrey, author of short story collection The Good Little Ceylonese Girl; Chris Power, author of the short story collection Mothers; Namita Gokhale, Indian writer and Festival co-director; and Navtej Sarna, Indian diplomat and author of the short story collection Winter Evenings. In conversation with director and co-founder of London Short Story Festival, Paul McVeigh.

June 16 – 1:45PM TO 2:45PM MUGHAL COURTYARD

“I devoured it in a day, but I’ve thought about it for many, many more.”
Bailey’s Prize-winner Lisa McInerney
“A triumph of storytelling. An absolute gem.”
Donal Ryan