Carrigallen's Aisling Rawle is among the authors on the shortlist for this year's An Post Irish Book Awards.
Aisling's debut novel, The Compound tells the story of Lily—a bored, beautiful twenty-something—wakes up on a remote desert compound, alongside nineteen other contestants competing on a massively popular reality show.
To win, she must outlast her housemates to stay in the Compound the longest, while competing in challenges for luxury rewards like champagne and lipstick, plus communal necessities to outfit their new home, like food, appliances, and a front door.
Aisling, a qualified English teacher, who's currently on a break to focus on her writing, only took up the pastime in recent years.
She's one of eight nominees for the Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year category.
Winners will be announced at awards ceremony in the Convention Centre, Dublin on Thursday, 27th November.
