She has worked for the arts and special needs charity Project Ability since 1989, first as writer in residence from 1989 to 1995, then as editor of 'Outside Lines' magazine.įrom 1993 to 1995 Kennedy was an editor of 'New Writing Scotland' and was a writer in residence at Copenhagen University in 1995. In a world that’s governed by algorithms, prizes like this make a difference.Dundee, City of Dundee, Scotland, United KingdomĪlison Louise Kennedy was a writer in residence for Hamilton and East Kilbride Social Work Department from 1989 to 1991. “It’s a great way to encourage people to read. We were five judges with really diverse backgrounds, and we’re able to tell people that these were books chosen by women who love reading. “We’re inundated in this world with information coming at us which is chosen by algorithm. “I think we still need to celebrate excellence, and you only need to see what happens to these books and these writers once they’ve been on the shortlist - it amplifies their voices, and if we can get more books into more readers’ hands, that is really important,” she said.

Minchin said a women-only prize was still welcome, despite some questioning its relevance. My fellow judges and I feel it has been a huge privilege to read these novels, and we are delighted to be part of their journey, bringing them to the attention of more readers from across the world.” Louise Minchin, the broadcaster and chair of the judges, said: “This is an exquisite set of ambitious, diverse, thoughtful, hard-hitting and emotionally engaging novels. The list is completed by Laline Paull with Pod, a novel written from the perspective of a dolphin. Two of the shortlisted authors are previous Women’s Prize winners: Maggie O’Farrell, nominated this year for The Marriage Portrait, and Barbara Kingsolver, nominated for Demon Copperhead. Priscilla Morris is nominated for Black Butterflies and Jacqueline Crooks for Fire Rush. Kennedy, 55, who was born in Belfast and now lives in Sligo, is one of three debut authors on the Women’s Prize shortlist. Writing in The Times, Kennedy said: “Trespasses has enabled me to largely ignore all the health stuff the writing of it got me through the first melanoma diagnosis and its publication is sustaining me through its return.” Trespasses was published in November last year and became a bestseller. Shortly afterwards, doctors informed her that her cancer had spread and she is currently receiving treatment for stage four melanoma.

Kennedy published a short story collection in 2021 while continuing to work on Trespasses.

Author louise kennedy