Novelist Mary Roachford wins gong in the Book for Birmingham prize

Feb 24 2009 by Paul Suart, Birmingham Mail

THE inaugural Book for Birmingham prize has been presented to Irish-born writer Mary Rochford.

Gilded Shadows, a collection of short stories set in western Ireland, Birmingham and Nice, beat competition from 11 other short-listed entries including James Joyce’s Ulysses, Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, to scoop the accolade in a public vote.

The Kings Heath novelist was announced as winner at the Birmingham Book Festival in October last year but has had to wait to get her hands on the trophy which was presented to her by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Chauhdry Rashid, in the banqueting suite at Council House.

“I was flabbergasted at winning given how strong the field was,” the 65-year-old said.

“It really seemed to capture the imagination of the Birmingham public.”