Oliver Jeffers, Marian Keyes, and Enda Walsh revealed as next Seamus Heaney Fellows at Queen’s University

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointment of Oliver Jeffers, Marian Keyes, and Enda Walsh as the Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows for 2020–21.

Each year, the Seamus Heaney Centre announces three Fellows from the worlds of Poetry, Fiction, Music, Film and Television to explore creative writing in all its forms by working with students, and contributing to the Centre’s activities within the University and the wider literary community.

Oliver Jeffers is an artist and author working in painting, bookmaking, illustration, collage, performance and sculpture.

Marian Keyes is the international bestselling author of fourteen novels including Watermelon, Rachel’s Holiday, Sushi for Beginners,

Speaking about the appointment, Marian Keyes said: “Creative writing is a challenging, and sometimes lonely experience. Having been writing professionally for 26 years, I have a lot of experience to offer in terms of the nuts and bolts of writing - dialogue, plotting and especially characterisation. I also understand the emotions that go with creative writing – the excitement, the aspirations, the acute self-doubt.

“The fellowship is a great resource for creative writing students to have published writers to connect with, and the three fellows for 2020-21 offer wonderful diverse skills and experience.

“For me personally, it’s an honour, and very exciting to be able to assist in another writer’s process. I am extremely proud to be a Fellow at the Seamus Heaney Centre.”

Enda Walsh is a Tony and multi award-winning Irish playwright and director. His work has been translated into over 20 languages and has been performed internationally since 1998.

Welcoming the new appointments, Professor Glenn Patterson, Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s said: “It is with enormous pleasure, and excitement, that we announce Oliver Jeffers, Marian Keyes and Enda Walsh as the 2021 Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows. Our students, the whole university body, and indeed the wider literary community, will benefit tremendously from their presence, from their experience and globally recognized excellence as writers. I can’t wait for January.”

Previous Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows have included musicians Iain Archer and Duke Special, novelists Jo Baker, Anna Burns and Lucy Caldwell, poets Vahni Capildeo and Doireann Ni Ghriofa, and screenwriters Lisa McGee and Jed Mercurio. Anna Burns, who was a Fellow in 2019-20, has extended her Fellowship into the autumn.

The new Fellows will officially take up their posts in the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s in the new year.