Picture an Irish storyteller who weaves dark humor and surrealism into tales that linger long after the final page—meet Nicole Flattery! Born in Kinnegad, County Westmeath, this rising literary star has captivated readers with her sharp wit and unflinching exploration of womanhood, isolation, and the absurdities of modern life. Her debut collection, Show Them a Good Time, announced her as a bold new voice, drawing comparisons to Lorrie Moore and Ottessa Moshfegh.
Flattery’s work is like a perfectly brewed cup of tea—comforting yet laced with something unexpectedly bitter. Whether she’s dissecting the performative nature of relationships or the quiet despair of dead-end jobs, her stories resonate with anyone who’s ever felt caught in life’s surreal script.
The Making of Nicole Flattery
Nicole Flattery grew up in the rural heart of Ireland, where the quiet of Kinnegad sparked her imagination. She studied theatre and film at Trinity College Dublin, but it was a playwriting module that ignited her love for storytelling. After graduating, she honed her craft with a master’s in creative writing, working odd jobs in bars and card shops to make ends meet. These early experiences—of fleeting jobs and fleeting dreams—would later seep into her fiction, grounding her surreal narratives in raw, relatable emotion.
Her big break came in 2017 when her short story “Track” won the prestigious White Review Short Story Prize, earning her a £3,000 cheque and a six-figure book deal with Bloomsbury. At just 27, Flattery was on her way to becoming one of Ireland’s most exciting literary talents.
Nicole Flattery’s Unforgettable Stories
Flattery’s debut, Show Them a Good Time (2019), is a collection of eight short stories that shimmer with dark humor and biting insight. From a young Irish woman navigating a toxic relationship with a comedian in New York (“Track”) to two university students staging a chaotic play about abortion (“Abortion: A Love Story”), her stories explore the messy, often absurd realities of womanhood. Critics praised the collection’s wit and depth, with The Irish Times calling it a herald of a “rising star.”
In 2023, Flattery released her debut novel, Nothing Special, set in the gritty glamour of Andy Warhol’s 1960s New York Factory. The story follows Mae, a teenage typist transcribing Warhol’s chaotic recordings, as she grapples with identity, power, and exploitation. Flattery’s minimalist prose and keen eye for power dynamics make the novel a haunting reflection on art and ambition. Her ability to blend historical settings with timeless themes showcases her versatility.
Flattery’s style is distinctly her own—sharp, surreal, and laced with a dry humor that cuts deep. Her characters, often women on the fringes, navigate worlds that feel both familiar and disorientingly off-kilter. Themes of surveillance, performance, and the search for authenticity run through her work, making her stories as thought-provoking as they are entertaining.
Why Nicole Flattery Matters
Nicole Flattery is more than a storyteller; she’s a voice for those who feel unseen. Her work captures the quiet rebellion of women navigating a world that demands they perform, conform, or disappear. In an era where Irish women writers like Sally Rooney and Anne Enright are redefining global literature, Flattery stands out for her fearless exploration of the absurd and the intimate.
Her impact extends beyond the page. By tackling issues like power imbalances and societal expectations, she’s sparking conversations about gender and identity. Awards like the An Post Irish Book Award and the Kate O’Brien Prize underscore her growing influence, cementing her as a vital voice in contemporary fiction.
- Born: 1989, Kinnegad, County Westmeath, Ireland
- Key Works: Show Them a Good Time (2019), Nothing Special (2023)
- Awards: An Post Irish Book Award, Kate O’Brien Prize, White Review Short Story Prize
Snag Show Them a Good Time or Nothing Special and dive into Nicole Flattery’s brilliantly weird world of dark humor and raw truth!