The Quebec Writers’ Federation is delighted to announce that the 2023 Max Margles Writer in Residence is Heather O’Neill!
The three-strong jury—Ardo Omer, author, critic, and Kids Coordinator for FOLD (Festival of Literary Diversity); Dermot Davis, Dublin-based playwright and author; and Tracey Waddleton, author and inaugural Max Margles Writer in Residence in 2022—sifted through sixty-four submissions from Quebec-based writers for projects in short- and long-form fiction.
From a shortlist of eight finalists, Heather O’Neill was selected to spend a month in Dublin, Ireland, in August 2023.
About Heather O’Neill
Heather O’Neill is the author of seven books, including Lullabies for Little Criminals, The Lonely Hearts Hotel, and When We Lost Our Heads. She is also an essayist whose work has appeared in such publications as The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times Magazine. She lives in Montreal.
O’Neill intends to create a work of fiction informed by Irish magical realism and theatre. She will also present a talk on the influence of Irish folklore and magic in Irish North American diasporic writing.
About the Max Margles Writing Residency
The Max Margles Writing Residency is an annual one-month residency whose aim is to provide time and space for a Quebec writer to reflect, research, and write as they need.
The 2023 Residency will provide a self-contained artist’s studio in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, Ireland, for four weeks in August.
The inaugural residency, which took place in 2022, was held at St. Patrick’s Lodge on the grounds of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Tracey Waddleton wrote about her experience as the first Max Margles Writer in Residence here and here.
The Max Margles Writing Residency is supported by Roslyn Margles in memory of her husband, Max.
The Quebec Writers’ Federation is delighted to partner with the Irish Writers Centre, University College Dublin, MoLI (Museum of Literary Ireland), and Dublin City Council for this project.
For further press inquiries, interviews, or information about the Residency, please contact Project Manager Rachel McCrum at maxmarglesresidency@qwf.org or (514) 264-6520.