Was incredible, and since winning the prize for her debut novel 'A Girl is A Half Formed Thing', Eimear McBride's book has been plastered all over London.
As if hosting the prize at the Royal Festival Hall wasn't glamorous enough, the night began with a red carpet and champagne reception, and from about six o'clock the entire South Bank was glittered with guests in high spirits and stunning clothes.
As with most of these events, I was very obviously the youngest person in attendance. Given that the room was packed with the industry's most influential figures, I was thinking I'd be lucky if someone mistook me for an overdressed waiter.
However, I think I'm beginning to grasp just how small the industry actually is. Everyone knows everyone else, through colleagues or by reputation and it means that events like this are just parties, full of people relaxing and catching up with old friends. Even I found it a really social evening, catching up with my old bosses from previous internships at Harper Collins' Blue Door and 4th Estate, and Stephen Page (head of Faber and Faber) even took the time to catch up with me explaining exactly what he saw in McBride's winning novel, and why he chose to give it new life after its indie press origins.
I have to say, the speeches were fantastic. Brief and to the point, Jane Bruton (editor in chief of Grazia magazine), Kate Mosse (author not model), were my favourites. They managed to convey a sense of the cultural significance of the award with such sensitivity and reverence to the authors that listening to them speak was both humbling and inspiring at the same time.
So Eimear McBride won! Though no one could have predicted it for sure (what serious competition) I dont think anyone was suprised. A thoroughly modern and moving stream of consciousness novel, its one of those books that inspires fanatical fandom. Eimear cried when accepting the award, thanking everyone who helped her get to where she is today and said a few words about what an honour it was for her work to be sat alongside other such incredible work.
By the end of the night I felt really inspired....and a little bit drunk (Baileys packs a whopping 17% alcohol into its gooey goodness). But revved up from listening and speaking to truly talented men and women, creating and supporting fantastic new writing I was proud to be a (small) part of the business of book publishing and motivated to carry on writing myself.
As with most of these events, I was very obviously the youngest person in attendance. Given that the room was packed with the industry's most influential figures, I was thinking I'd be lucky if someone mistook me for an overdressed waiter.
However, I think I'm beginning to grasp just how small the industry actually is. Everyone knows everyone else, through colleagues or by reputation and it means that events like this are just parties, full of people relaxing and catching up with old friends. Even I found it a really social evening, catching up with my old bosses from previous internships at Harper Collins' Blue Door and 4th Estate, and Stephen Page (head of Faber and Faber) even took the time to catch up with me explaining exactly what he saw in McBride's winning novel, and why he chose to give it new life after its indie press origins.
I have to say, the speeches were fantastic. Brief and to the point, Jane Bruton (editor in chief of Grazia magazine), Kate Mosse (author not model), were my favourites. They managed to convey a sense of the cultural significance of the award with such sensitivity and reverence to the authors that listening to them speak was both humbling and inspiring at the same time.
So Eimear McBride won! Though no one could have predicted it for sure (what serious competition) I dont think anyone was suprised. A thoroughly modern and moving stream of consciousness novel, its one of those books that inspires fanatical fandom. Eimear cried when accepting the award, thanking everyone who helped her get to where she is today and said a few words about what an honour it was for her work to be sat alongside other such incredible work.
By the end of the night I felt really inspired....and a little bit drunk (Baileys packs a whopping 17% alcohol into its gooey goodness). But revved up from listening and speaking to truly talented men and women, creating and supporting fantastic new writing I was proud to be a (small) part of the business of book publishing and motivated to carry on writing myself.