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Maggie Shipstead a 28 year old writer from San Diego is the 2012 winner of the 30,000 International Dylan Thomas Prize for Young Writers sponsored by University of Wales for her debut novel Seating Arrangements .
The book lays bare the pretensions of New England society as a shot gun wedding unfolds through the eyes of the bride's father and draws on the author's experiences as a student in Boston.
In her acceptance speech at a dinner in the National Waterfront Museum in Dylan Thomas' home city of Swansea on the 98th anniversary of Dylan's death on 9th November she praised her fellow shortlisted authors with whom she has lived in cottages at the Official Authors' Residence at Clyne Farm Centre for the past week. During that period they took part in the DylanED schools programme throughout South Wales and said "They are all such talented writers that I feel privileged.to have won"
The judges described the shortlist of five books as outstanding and rivalling any shortlist of any literary competition in the world. The Judges who included Texas professor Kurt Heinzelman, former Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews, best selling novelist Allison Pearson and former Foreign Office minister Kim Howellswere chaired by Hay Ferstival director Peter Florence.
The authorsalso had an opportunity to vist a number of local events, tour the Gower Peninsula and visit the Dylan Thomas Birthplace in Swansea which also sponsors the Prize. Maggie described the house as "A beautiful restoration into a comfortable family home of which Dylan would have been proud.
Miss Shipstead is currently working on her second novel which is about a Russian ballet dancer and is set in New York, London and Paris.
Photo Maggie Shipstead outside the Dylan Thomas Birthplace in Swansea which she described as a beautiful restoration into a comfortable family home of which Dylan would have been proud.
