Alan McMonagle is a writer based in Galway. In 2015, he signed a two-book deal with Picador, and his debut novel, Ithaca, was published in March 2017 and nominated for the Desmond Elliott Award for first novels, a Bord Gáis Irish Book Award, and the Dublin Literary Award. He has received awards for his work from the Professional Artists’ Retreat in Yaddo (New York), the Fundación Valparaiso (Spain), the Banff Centre for Creativity (Canada) and the Arts Council of Ireland. He has also published two collections of short stories, Psychotic Episodes (Arlen House, 2013) and Liar Liar (Wordsonthestreet, 2008), both of which were nominated for the Frank O’Connor Short Story Award. His stories have appeared in many journals in Ireland and North America, and he has read from his work at many festivals at home and abroad. He also writes for radio and has had four radio plays (Oscar Night, People Walking On Water, Shirley Temple Killer Queen and Pink Moon) produced and broadcast as part of RTE’s Drama on One season.
His second novel, Laura Cassidy’s Walk Of Fame, appeared in March, 2020.
He has just completed a third collection of short stories (Work and Other Emergencies) and a short novel (Famous Last Meals).