Paul McVeigh

Paul McVeigh was born in Belfast. His debut novel, The Good Son, won The Polari First Novel Prize and The McCrea Literary Award, and was shortlisted for many others including the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award and The Prix du Roman Cezam. It was Brighton’s City Reads book choice and was given out  across the UK on World Book Night.

Paul has judged many literature prizes including the Royal Society of Literature’s VS Pritchard Award, the International Dylan Thomas Prize and the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year for the second time this year. Paul has edited three anthologies and his writing has been translated into eight languages.

His work has been performed on stage and radio, published in print and translated into seven languages. He began his career as a playwright before moving to London where he wrote comedy shows, which were performed at the Edinburgh Festival and in London’s West End. Paul’s short stories have been in anthologies, journals and newspapers, and read on BBC Radio 3, 4 and 5, RTE Radio, as well as, Sky ARTS. His ten-part short story series, The Circus, aired on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio 4. He co-founded The London Short Story Festival and has edited three anthologies. His collection of BBC Radio 4 short stories, I Hear You, was published by Salt Publishing in March 2025.