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Join Derry-based author SUE DIVIN to celebrate the launch of her third novel, RUNAWAY ROAD, in conversation with author BERNIE MCGILL, followed by a Q&A session, in HOLYWELL TRUST, Bishop Street, Derry on Sat 9 May 2026 at 7pm. Adults and teens, writers and readers all welcome. Free admission but booking essential. Light refreshments available from 6.45pm. Event starts 7pm.Books available to purchase and for author-signing.
ABOUT THE BOOK - Runaway Road:
A riveting and moving story of family and belonging set in contemporary N Ireland and Donegal in 2023, exploring themes of family and belonging, identity, borders and youth justice. Perfect for readers of Margaret McDonald's Glasgow Boys.
Ezra is sixteen. He's no stranger to crossing the line, but this time it's serious - and someone might be dead. To escape justice, he'll have to cross another line: the Northern Irish border. But that means leaving behind the only thing that really matters. His little sister, Evie.
Evie is nine and sees it differently. Why shouldn't she go on the run with him too? Raised in care, the siblings are used to feeling invisible. Now they have to become invisible for real.
Three life-changing minutes. Two siblings on the run. One choice that changes everything…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
SUE DIVIN is a Derry-based writer with Armagh roots. Her critically-acclaimed novels are popular with teens and adults alike. Published in May 2026, RUNAWAY ROAD (First Ink, Macmillan), is on the Irish Times ‘Best fiction of 2026’ list.
Sue has a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies and a career in Community Relations. Her short stories, flash fiction and poetry, have been published in a range of literary journals.
GUARD YOUR HEART, her debut novel, won the Great Reads Award (Ireland) and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Her second novel TRUTH BE TOLD won the McCrea Literary Award and was shortlisted in the Irish Book Awards, Children’s Book Ireland Awards and UK Literacy Awards and Southern Schools Book Awards.
RUNAWAY ROAD will be her third novel and will be published in May 2026 by First Ink, Pan Macmillan.
ABOUT THE GUEST SPEAKER:
BERNIE MCGILL is the 2023 winner of the Edge Hill Short Story Prize for her collection THIS TRAIN IS FOR . She is the author of two novels: THE WATCH HOUSE (nominated for the Ireland European Union Prize for Literature in 2019) and THE BUTTERFLY CABINET (2010). Her work has been widely anthologised and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.
Bernie is a Fellow with the Royal Literary Fund and a Mentor with the Irish Writers’ Centre.
Her first short story collection, SLEEPWALKERS was re-published in 2025 by No Alibis Press. She is an Honorary Member of the Linen Hall Library in which building her writing archive is held.
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Event Venue
Holywell Trust, 10-14 Bishop Street,Derry/Londonderry, Derry, United Kingdom
Tickets
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