Jamie O'Connell has had short stories highly commended by the Costa Short Story Award and the Irish Book Award Short Story of the Year. He has been longlisted for BBC Radio 4 Opening Lines Short Story Competition and shortlisted for the Maeve Binchy Travel Award and the Sky Arts Futures Fund. He has an MFA and MA in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. He has worked for Penguin Random House, Gill Books and O'Brien Press. Diving for Pearls is his first novel.
If you're after a total page turner then try Diving for Pearls . . . A fantastic debut novel * Stellar * [O'Connell's] talent is clear * The Ryan Tubridy Show * It's tough to link so many narrative threads . . . but O'Connell pulls it off with aplomb * Irish Times * A hugely engaging novel from a talented new writer -- John Boyne A compelling tale uncovering a world of secrets, injustice and, for the lucky few, escape -- Anne Griffin * author of When All is Said * Shimmering, beguiling and ruthless. A fizzing and assured debut * Colin Barrett * Sprawling and encompassing so many worlds, it's utterly gripping. Excellent. * Sophie White, author of Corpsing * Love this . . . a really fantastic read -- Sinéad Moriarty This page-turner is the debut offering from Cork writer O'Connell and the sign of great things to come from him * Irish Examiner * The opening chapter grabbed me right away . . . I'm gripped * The Art House, 96FM *