Tom Phelan

Fiction Writer, Creative Nonfiction Writer

Freeport, NY
New York US

Author's Bio

Author of novels In the Season of the Daisies, Iscariot, Derrycloney, The Canal Bridge, and Nailer. Excepts available at www.tomphelan.net. Has written for Newsday, the Irish Echo, independent.ie (Irish Independent), and the journal of the American Irish Historical Society. Has participated in the Hofstra University Summer Writers Conference, West Cork Literary Festival, Kings Lynn Fiction Festival, Flat Lake Festival, andd others. Has given talks/readings at scores of libraries, schools, bookstores, and cultural groups, including Villanova University, New Rochelle College, NYU Ireland House, Molloy College, Hofstra University, American Irish Historical Society, Great War Society, and Irish Writers Centre (Dublin).

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Book:
We Were Rich and We Didn't Know It: A Memoir of My Irish Boyhood (Gallery Press, 2019)

Fiction

Anthologies:
Brandon Book of Irish Short Stories (Brandon Books, 1998)
,
The Brandon Book of Irish Short Stories (Brandon Books, 1998)
Books:
Lies the Mushroom Pickers Told (Arcade, 2015)
,
The Canal Bridge (Arcade, 2014)
,
The Canal Bridge (Lilliput Press, 2005)
,
Derrycloney (Brandon Books, 1999)
,
In the Season of the Daisies (Four Walls Eight Windows Press, 1996)
,
Iscariot (Brandon Books, 1995)
,
Iscariot (Brandon Press, 1995)
Journals:
Newsday
,
The Recorder: Journal of American Irish Historical Society
Prizes won: 

---Irish Echo Literary Award (2023).

--"We Were Rich and We Didn't Know It: A Memoir of My Irish Boyhood" awarded a Kirkus Star (2019).

-Christopher Isherwood Foundation Fellow, 2008-2009

-"In the Season of the Daisies" selected for Discover Great New Writers series (Barnes & Noble) -

"In the Season of the Daisies" a finalist for Discover Award

"In the Season of the Daisies" awarded a starred review in Publishers Weekly.

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Irish
Prefers to work with: 
Adults
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
MOUNTMELLICK, CO. LAOIS
Ireland
Raised in: 
MOUNTMELLICK, Co. Laois
Ireland
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Aug 06, 2024