Seàn Hewitt in conversation with Andrew McMillan at Queer Lit
Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor
Expect an unforgettable evening of captivating conversation as award-winning poet, memoirist, novelist and literary critic Seán Hewitt reads from his eagerly awaited debut novel, Open Heaven, and discusses it with celebrated poet Andrew McMillan.
A literary force in his own right, Andrew’s unique ability to uncover and explore the heart of a work promises to make this conversation truly extraordinary. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Seán Hewitt’s work, this is your chance to experience the magic that happens when two of poetry’s finest minds come together, delve into the lyrical and deeply moving world of Open Heaven, and hear Seán share his inspirations and creative process.
Chosen by The Sunday Times as one of their “30 under 30” artists in Ireland in 2020, Seán Hewitt’s debut collection of poetry, Tongues of Fire, won The Laurel Prize in 2021, and was shortlisted for The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, the John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize and a Dalkey Literary Award. His second collection, Rapture’s Road, was published in 2024, and shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. His memoir, All Down Darkness Wide, was published by Jonathan Cape in the UK and Penguin Press in the USA (2022). It was shortlisted for Biography of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards, for the Foyles Book of the Year in non-fiction, for the RSL Ondaatje Prize, the Polari Prize, the Michel Déon Prize, and for a LAMBDA award. He won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 2022.
Seán Hewitt is Assistant Professor in Literary Practice at Trinity College Dublin and Andrew McMillan is Professor of Contemporary Writing at the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University – both are fellows of the Royal Society of Literature and both have just published their debut novels.
>Andrew McMillan’s debut novel, Pity, was published by Canongate in 2024. His debut poetry collection, physical, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2015 and was the only ever poetry collection to win The Guardian First Book Award. The collection also won the Fenton Aldeburgh First Collection Prize, a Somerset Maugham Award and an Eric Gregory Award, and was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Costa Poetry Award and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection, among others. His second collection, playtime, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2018 and won the inaugural Polari Prize. His third collection, pandemonium, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2021, and 100 Queer Poems, the acclaimed anthology he edited with Mary Jean Chan, was published by Vintage in 2022 and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards.
The Queer Lit organisers are promising a night of profound beauty and poetic brilliance, meaningful discussion and community connection – an event not to be missed. They add: “Spaces are limited—secure your spot now and join us for an unforgettable celebration of poetry, story telling and queer voices!”
