The Nerve is a podcast produced by the English department at South East Technological University Cork Road campus. Each episode brings together staff and students to discuss a range of topics, including English literature, cultural events and critical theory. Hosted by Dr Jenny O'Connor.
In this episode of the podcast, Jenny chats to the author of three acclaimed novels, Lisa Harding. Her first book, Harvesting, about two young girls who find themselves victims of sex trafficking, won the Kate O’Brien Award for Irish fiction. It was called a “fierce and heartbreaking accomplishment” by The Irish Times.
Her second novel, Bright Burning Things, was nominated for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year. Her most recent book, The Wildelings, explores the issues of co-dependency and manipulation in a Dublin university and was chosen as one of the best books of the year by The Irish Examiner.
Lisa joined staff and students at SETU for a Creative Writing workshop that focused on voice, identity and belonging, and talks on the podcast about her interest in complex characters, the impact of Covid on her career and the process of “messy” writing. Many thanks to SATLE for funding this workshop and to Dr Christa de Brún and Dr Fiona Ennis for organising it.
