Spill Simmer Falter Wither, Sara Baume’s debut novel, won The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature 2015 and was long-listed for the Guardian First Book Award.
She also won the Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year award at the Bórd Gais Energy Book Awards 2015. Her novel was featured as one of this year’s student and staff-chosen UL First Seven Weeks recommended books.
Sara Baume was born in Lancashire, but grew up in Cork. She studied Fine Art in Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design and completed a Masters in Creative Writing in Trinity College, Dublin.
In 2014 she was awarded the Davy Byrnes short story award, organised by the Stinging Fly in association with Dublin Unesco City of Literature, for her story Solesearcher1.
Sara Baume won the Hennessy New Irish Writing Award earlier in 2015 for her short story Dancing, or Beginning to Dance.
Her second novel, A Line Made by Walking, was published in 2017. This book follows the life of a young artist named Frankie, who is grappling with depression and her place in the world.
Sara Baume's writing is characterized by its introspective and meditative nature, as well as its keen observation of the human condition.
Her stories often explore the inner lives of her characters, delving into their thoughts, fears, and desires.
Aside from her fiction writing, Sara Baume is also an accomplished visual artist, and her background in the arts is evident in her prose, which is rich in imagery and sensory descriptions.
Events
Spill Simmer Falter Wither launch, November 18, 2015
At this event, Sara was introduced by Professor Joseph O'Connor, who had been the chosen author for UL One Campus One Book the previous year.
Sara read a few sections of her book at the event, and the audience was also offered the opportunity to ask Sara questions about her novel.
How I Write Ireland interview, April 6, 2016
The final event of UL One Campus One Book 2015/16 consisted of a How I Write, Ireland interview, in which Lawrence Cleary engaged Sara in a public interview about her writing processes and strategies.
Discussion on visual and literary art, February 24, 2016
At this event, Sara discussed her college life, her writing habits and also how she went about writing her debut novel.