Graham Gives Cathy Some Twitter Love

Having already wowed the critics on this side of the pond, Cathy Sweeney’s debut short story collection is now making its mark in the UK.

And its release there this month got a major boost with an enthusiastic thumbs up from fellow Irish author Graham Norton.

Posting on his Twitter account about Sweeney’s Modern Times, Norton raved, ‘Loved this by Cathy Sweeney. Stories that push fiction to the edge. Absurd, funny, poetic and then without warning utterly heart chilling‘.

To his 1.4m followers. Which should make the book’s UK publisher, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, more than a little excited and delighted as it’s released there on July 23rd. Especially when followed by glowing reviews.

Released here in March, Modern Times followed the publication last November of another acclaimed debut short story collection, Paris Syndrome, which just happened to be written by another local author – Cathy’s daughter, Lucy.

Who, if memory serves, also happens to be GG’s daughter.

Writing acclaimed and feted short story collections may not be quite as big an achievement as running a top town website for a bunch of spoilt ingrates, but still, congrats to both authors. Sounds like these books might actually be worth reading.

You can pick up your copy of Modern Times right here, and Paris Syndrome over here. And then let us know which one is better.

Main pic courtesy Sophia Spring