Hazel's 'Before Dorothy' shortlisted in Irish Book Awards

Our local best-selling author Hazel Gaynor's book Before Dorothy has been shortlisted in the Popular Fiction category of the Irish Book Awards, writes Brian Byrne. The shortlists were announced at a function in Dublin's GPO last night.

The winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony on November 27th, and in the meantime, the public can vote for their favourites until 16 November. Eight books are in the category shortlist, all written by women and including stories by Patricia Scanlan and Cecilia Ahern. 

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted in what is always a very competitive category," Hazel told the Diary this afternoon, "and to be flying the flag for historical fiction (and for Auntie Em!)."

The story in Before Dorothy looks at the life of one of the least-known characters in the much-loved Wizard of Oz tale, Dorothy's Auntie Emily.

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