Maria Joan Hyland is an ex-lawyer and the author of three novels: ''How the Light Gets In'' (2004), '' Carry Me Down'' (2006) and ''This is How'' (2009). Hyland is a lecturer in creative writing in the Centre for New Writing at the

University of Manchester , mottoeng = Knowledge, Wisdom, Humanity , established = 2004 – University of Manchester Predecessor institutions: 1956 – UMIST (as university college; university 1994) 1904 – Victoria University of Manchester 1880 – Victoria Univer ...

. ''Carry Me Down'' (2006) was shortlisted for the

Man Booker Prize The Booker Prize, formerly known as the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. ...

and won the

Hawthornden Prize The Hawthornden Prize is a British literary award that was established in 1919 by Alice Warrender, who was born at Hawthornden Castle. Authors under the age of 41 are awarded on the quality of their "imaginative literature", which can be written ...

and the Encore Prize. Hyland has twice been longlisted for the Orange Prize (2004 and 2009), the

Commonwealth Writers' Prize Commonwealth Foundation presented a number of prizes between 1987 and 2011. The main award was called the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was composed of two prizes: the Best Book Prize (overall and regional) was awarded from 1987 to 2011; the Best ...

(2004 and 2007) and ''This is How'' (2009) was longlisted for the

International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award The International Dublin Literary Award ( ga, Duais Liteartha Idirnáisiúnta Bhaile Átha Chliath), established as the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, is presented each year for a novel written or translated into English. ...

. At the University of Manchester she has run fiction workshops alongside

Martin Amis Martin Louis Amis (born 25 August 1949) is a British novelist, essayist, memoirist, and screenwriter. He is best known for his novels ''Money'' (1984) and ''London Fields'' (1989). He received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his memoir '' ...

(2007–2010),

Colm Tóibín Colm Tóibín (, approximately ; born 30 May 1955) is an Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, critic, playwright and poet. His first novel, '' The South'', was published in 1990. '' The Blackwater Lightship'' was shortlis ...

(2010–2011) and

Jeanette Winterson Jeanette Winterson (born 27 August 1959) is an English writer. Her first book, '' Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit'', was a semi-autobiographical novel about a sensitive teenage girl rebelling against convention. Other novels explore gender pola ...

(2013–present). Hyland runs regular Fiction Masterclasses in the ''Guardian'' Masterclass Programme, has twice been shortlisted for the BBC Short Story Prize (2011 and 2012) and she publishes in ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' How to Write series and the ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nik ...

'', the ''

LRB LRB may refer to: * Love Runs Blind, a Bangladeshi rock band * '' Lego Rock Band'', a game in the ''Rock Band'' video game series * Liquid rocket booster * Little Red Book, quotations from Chairman Mao * Little River Band, an Australian music act * ...

'', '' Granta'' and elsewhere.

Writing and prizes

'' Carry Me Down'' (2006) was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won both the

and The Encore Prize and all three novels have been longlisted and short-listed for several prizes: the Orange Prize (2004 and 2009). Carry Me Down has been listed as one of the Top 100 ‘Australian’ Novels of all time by the Society of Authors. ''How the Light Gets In'' (2004) and '' Carry Me Down'' (2006) were shortlisted for the

(2004 and 2007) and ''This is How'' (2009) was longlisted for the Dublin International IMPAC Prize and The Orange Prize (2009). Hyland's short story "Even Pretty Eyes Commit Crimes", which was shortlisted for the BBC International Short Story Prize (2012) and first published online by ''Granta'', is story of the week in Narrative Magazine, US.

Short stories

Hyland's short stories have been published in many places, including '' Zoetrope: All Story'' (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008), ''Blackbook Magazine'' (2004, 2006 & 2007), ''Best Australian Short Stories'' (2006 & 2008) and, in September 2011, her short story "Rag Love" was shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award. Hyland's "Even Pretty Eyes Commit Crimes" has been published in the anthology ''Best British Short Stories'' (2013). Boyd Tonkin from ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' said of the anthology: "Nicholas Royale has excellent taste, ensuring little explosions of weirdness or transcendence often erupt amid much well-observed everyday life."

Teaching and editing

Hyland runs regular in the Guardian Masterclass Programme, has twice been shortlisted for the BBC Short Story Prize (2011 and 2012) and regularly publishes non-fiction in ''

'' (including in the How to Write series), the ''

'', the ''

London Review of Books The ''London Review of Books'' (''LRB'') is a British literary magazine published twice monthly that features articles and essays on fiction and non-fiction subjects, which are usually structured as book reviews. History The ''London Review of ...

'', ''

Lonely Planet Lonely Planet is a travel guide book publisher. Founded in Australia in 1973, the company has printed over 150 million books. History Early years Lonely Planet was founded by married couple Maureen and Tony Wheeler. In 1972, they embarked ...

'', '' Granta'', the ''Scottish Herald'', and elsewhere. Hyland teaches three fiction courses in 2014 in the Curtis Brown (International Literary Agency) programme. Her advice on proof-reading has been cited in '' The New Scientist''.

Public readings and events

Hyland has made more than two dozen appearances on national and international radio, including

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...

(Ireland),

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...

(US), Radio 4 and The BBC World Service, Radio 3,

The ABC "The ABC Song" is the best-known song used to recite the English alphabet in alphabetical order. It is commonly used to teach the alphabet to children in English-speaking countries. "The ABC Song" was first copyrighted in 1835 by Boston music pu ...

(Australia) and has been a guest of nine major literary festivals, including the Edinburgh International Festival and Hay-On-Wye. Hyland has also been appointed writer-in-residence in programmes such as Arizona State University's Workshop Programme (Feb, 2014) & writer-in-residence at Griffith University, Australia (August 2013), and has appeared at the Melbourne Writers' Festival, Crossing Borders, the Netherlands, Segovia, Rome, the Brisbane Writers' Festival (July/August, 2013).

Personal life

In 2008, Hyland was diagnosed with

multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...

, a debilitating neurological disease.

Awards

''How the Light Gets In'' (2004) * Shortlisted for the

(2004) * Winner Best Young Novelist, ''

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...

'' * 3rd Prize, Barnes & Noble Discover Great Young Novelists ''Carry Me Down'' (2006) * Shortlisted for the

* Winner of The Hawthornden Prize (2007) * Winner of The Encore Prize (2007) * Shortlisted for the

(2006) ''This Is How'' (2009) * Longlisted for The Orange Prize * Longlisted for The International Dublin IMPAC Prize 2009 Short fiction: * Nominated for the Pushcart Prize USA - 2008 * "Rag Love" shortlisted for the BBC Short Story Prize (2011) * "Even Pretty Eyes Commit Crimes" shortlisted for the BBC International Short Story Prize (2012). * "Other People's Beds" has been longlisted for the EFG £30,000 Sunday Times Short Story Award (2014) Essays * "Hardy Animal" shortlisted for the inaugural William Hazlitt Essay Prize 2013 * Shortlisted for the £15,000 Hazlitt Essay Prize 2013

Reviews

''How the Light Gets In''

*"Hyland is a talented writer grappling with serious questions about how we make our way through the world. . . .' ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' *"A story with grit and heart from an intelligent, perspicacious writer to watch."''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' *"That Hyland is a talented writer is clear from the novel’s first page." ''Australian Book Review'' *"Hyland is an intelligent writing grappling with serious questions about how we make our way through the world." ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' *"Heartbreaking and compelling." ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...

'' *"Expect to be blown away." ''

'' *"A dry and fantastically sarcastic voice..." '' Time Out, New York'' *"Spot on." ''Irish Examiner'' *"a disturbing work which simmers with edgy brilliance." '' Sunday Herald'' *"The best book I read this year..." Mark Cousins, ''

Scotland on Sunday ''Scotland on Sunday'' is a Scottish Sunday newspaper, published in Edinburgh by JPIMedia and consequently assuming the role of Sunday sister to its daily stablemate ''The Scotsman''. It was originally printed in broadsheet format but in 2013 ...

''Carry Me Down'' (2006)

*"Hyland can do humour, horror and pathos all at once..." ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world. It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''The ...

'' *"This is writing of the highest order..." ''JM Coetzee'' *" ylandbrings life's uncomprehended complexities horribly alive." ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

''This is How'' (2009)

*"Unflinching, absorbing, morally complex ... an eerie, commanding book ... a novel about crime but not a crime novel ... thrilling, moving and compassionate." ''

'' *"Bleak yet moving, mercilessly dispassionate yet shot through with kindness and wit, it is a profound achievement" Justine Jordan *"A novel of extraordinary power ... Hyland tells her story in a supercharged present tense, tremblingly aware of physical detail." ''

'' *"This is an expertly paced, gripping novel that doesn't falter and never compromises its emotional truth." ''

'' *"A tour de force. Hyland illuminates this man's damaged soul with such a steely, brilliant clarity that your heart breaks for him."

Helen Garner Helen Garner (née Ford, born 7 November 1942) is an Australian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist. Garner's first novel, ''Monkey Grip (novel), Monkey Grip'', published in 1977, immediately established her as an origina ...

*"When you've been reading Hyland, other writers seem to lack integrity ... whereas she aims straight for the truth and the heart."

Hilary Mantel Dame Hilary Mary Mantel ( ; born Thompson; 6 July 1952 – 22 September 2022) was a British writer whose work includes historical fiction, personal memoirs and short stories. Her first published novel, ''Every Day Is Mother's Day'', was releas ...

*"Three or four days fter finishing the novel Hyland's white-hot prose was still smouldering in my head." ''

'' *"She makes it look so simple, with her words of one syllable, with a style almost entirely devoid of affect; but there is nothing simplistic about her achievement." ''New York Times'' *"The narrative drive is relentless, surging on and on in the toneless voice of Patrick Oxtoby, Hyland’s protagonist." Philip Womack

Teaching and editing

*"The course carries on and, just as I'm starting to get bored by the group discussion, Curtis Brown Creative pulls what is a stroke of genius in the form of four sessions with MJ Hyland. OMFG. I read the first chapter of her book Carry Me Down. Wow, she can write – even if she is writing about teaching a child to drown puppies. I should have worked out what was coming. She is lively, clever and shit-scary in a way that few men are. She is intimidating yet attentive. Comparing her to our tutor is like comparing Guns N' Roses to Otis Redding." Collette Brown.

Works

* ''How the Light Gets In'', Canongate, 2004. .' * '' Carry Me Down'', 2006, (hardback), (paperback) * '' This Is How'', 2009, .
Even Pretty Eyes Commit Crimes
– Published by Granta in 2012. Shortlisted for the International BBC Short Story Prize (2012), also Published in Narrative Magazine and Comma Press * Rag Love – originally published in January 2011 as First-Class Passage. Also published in Australia's major review/politics/ arts & media magazine, The Monthly. Available as a BB
radio broadcast
* M. J. Hyland's Short Stories published in Zoetrope: All-Story: ** A Boy, an Ex-Orphanage, and a Trapped Dog
Vol. 10, No. 3:
** Eggshell Skull
Vol. 12, No. 1

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hyland, Maria 1968 births Living people 21st-century Australian novelists 21st-century Australian women writers Australian women novelists People with multiple sclerosis