Nicola White

A line of six nuns occupied the plastic chairs in the reception area of Rathmines garda station. Swan could feel their eyes on his back as he walked up to the front desk and introduced himself.

‘DI Swan...from HQ.' Some old instinct kept his voice low, his name away from them.

The guard at the desk nodded and disappeared. Swan tried a casual look behind, but the nuns were still staring, except from a tiny ancient one on the end, who had bent again to her beads.

If he had taken a walk at lunchtime as was his plan, as he should have, he wouldn't be here in what was starting to look like a scene from the Benny Hill Show. But Barrett had brought him another cup of coffee and the paper had something interesting in it. When the call came in he was the only one in the office.

From The Rosary Garden

Biography

Nicola White grew up in Dublin and New York. She worked as a contemporary art curator and as a television and radio producer before giving it up for writing, which she'd been meaning to do for some time. She now lives thriftily on the Clyde coast and watches the submarines go by.

This year, Nicola has had short fiction published in Mslexia, and has been invited to read her work at the Blue Room in Newcastle. Recently she was commissioned by Artlink, Edinburgh to write a piece of short fiction based on their work, which will be published as an audio book. She is currently re-drafting her first novel, a piece of catholic noir set in Ireland.

Comment

"I am mighty delighted. The award is not only a huge practical help, but a heartening encouragement to press on."