Rooney scores magazine mentoring gig

AUTHOR Sally Rooney, left, is helping to kick-start conversations with up-and-coming writers so they can emulate her massive success.

The Co. Mayo native finds herself back in the spotlight this week with the release of the TV adaptation of Conversations with Friends. But away from the limelight, Ms Rooney is returning to her writing roots as and has just been appointed chairwoman of The Stinging Fly, the literary publication that was the first to recognise her talents.

The Stinging Fly styles itself as a literary magazine, book publisher, education provider and online platform for new talent.

In 2010 it published two of Ms Rooney’s poems when she was still at secondary school.

She later became an editor of the publication, which has an open submissions policy and guarantees that all submitted works will be read and considered.

Ms Rooney achieved massive international success after her book, Normal People, became a publishing – and later television – phenomenon. Now she will help to pass on her talent and experience at the helm of The Stinging Fly.

In its manifesto, the publication says its primary aim is ‘to feature the best new writing from Ireland and beyond and offer readers an eclectic and enlivening mix of fiction, nonfiction and poetry’.

And the platform can certainly point to notable successes, having given Ms Rooney her start.