Writer in Residence | Jess Kidd
Award-winning author and former RHACC student, Jess Kidd, has been confirmed as the College’s first ever Writer in Residence will take effect from September 2019 and run until 2020 to mark the centenary of the former Hillcroft Women’s College which became part of RHACC in October 2017. Hillcroft Women's Education is RHACC’s specialist programme for women only which incorporates a unique offer aimed at supporting disadvantaged women back into learning, thereby improving their life opportunities.
Jess Kidd was brought up in London as part of a large family from county Mayo and has been praised for her unique fictional voice. Her debut, Himself, was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards in 2016. She won the Costa Short Story Award the same year. Her second novel, The Hoarder, was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year 2019. Both books were BBC Radio 2 Book Club Picks. Her latest book, the Victorian detective tale Things in Jars, has been released to critical acclaim. Jess also writes short stories, children's stories and for TV and Film.
Jess studied at RHACC for her Access to HE diploma. She went on to complete an MA in Enabling Creative Writing in the Community and a PhD in Creative Writing Studies. Jess said: “I feel very excited to become the very first Writer in Residence at RHACC. I will be working with groups of women from backgrounds that have not traditionally fostered creative writing, including underrepresented voices, exploring themes such as empowerment through education.
