Giller Prize longlist

Have just found out that ‘The Mistress of Nothing’ is on the longlist for this year’s Giller Prize, one of Canada’s main annual literary prizes.

One of the judges was Alistair MacLeod, a writer I have admired from afar, so to speak, for many years - it’s hard to believe that he has even read my novel, let alone agreed to put it on a longlist. Russell Banks and Victoria Glendinning as well - it is too much for my tiny mind to contemplate.

I am so thrilled. Anything that makes it a little easier for my publishers to get the book under the noses of readers is fantastic news.