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When his fiancée breaks off their engagement, Patrick Oxtoby leaves home and moves to a boarding house in a seaside town. But in spite of his hopes and determination to build a better life, nothing goes to plan and Patrick is soon driven to take a desperate and chilling course of action.

This is How is a mesmerizing and meticulously drawn portrait of a man whose unease in the world leads to his tragic undoing. Written with breathtaking wisdom and an astute insight into the human mind, M.J. Hyland’s new book is a masterpiece that inspires horror and sympathy in equal measure.

M.J. Hyland writes about Mary Bale, the woman who was caught by CCTV putting a cat in a bin, August 2010. Read the piece, which includes an exclusive interview, in The Financial Times, 26 March, 2011. The piece is available online at the FT website here.

This is How has been longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2010. MJ Hyland’s third novel was nominated for the global literary award by the State Library of South Australia, Adelaide. The nomination for the award described This is How as “a fabulously bleak and cheerless story of a young misfit loner. A [...]

After Raoul Moat went on a murderous rampage in Northumbria, which ended in his suicide, a number of ‘fan pages’ have sprung up on Facebook. In a guest commentary for the Scottish Herald, Maria wrote a lengthy piece on both Moat and the fan pages. The entire piece can be read here Here’s a short [...]

The Faber Academy in London is hosting an intensive  three day fiction workshop with M.J. Hyland and Irish novelist Trevor Byrne (10-12 September). Maria’s sessions include: Day One:A short manuscript from each participant will be edited, critiqued and workshopped by Hyland. Hyland will also take participants through the essentials of writing vivid and compelling fiction. Day two: Part One: A masterclass [...]

There’s a great review from The Times for the paperback edition of This is How The full review can be read here. Here’s an extract: [...] Patrick is utterly believable and consistent. This is a supreme act of literary ventriloquism and you never once see Hyland’s lips move. [...] Further garlands surely await a truly [...]

The Orange Prize longlist for 2010 has just been announced and the great news is that This is How is one of the twenty novels chosen. It’s particularly good news given the quality of the longlist which includes the likes of Hilary Mantel (Wolf Hall), Andrea Levy (The Long Song), Lorrie Moore (A Gate at [...]

MJ Hyland on the London Underground! MJ Hyland’s novel, This is How, has been chosen by the First Capital Connect Book Club in conjunction with WHS Smith. Free samples of the first three chapters of This is How will be given to commuters on the london underground between the 1-5 April 2010. See: Observations: First [...]

Maria will be appearing at Canongate’s Edinburgh literary club night ‘Irregular’, which takes place on the 17th of March in the Roxy Art House, 2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9SU. Other guests are Denise Mina and  Christopher Brookmyre Host for the night is poet Jenny Lindsay, and there’s music from the 9-piece blues/roots Black Diamond Express. [...]

Vulpes Libris has published an interview with Maria. You can read the full interview (by Lisa Glass) here. Here’s a little taster: LG: Yes. Your characters are young and appear to be exploring what’s what in the world. They also seem uncomfortable in their own bodies. I’m thinking of Patrick’s physical awkwardness, Lou’s emerging sexual [...]

Maria joined author Jeff Lindsay, the creator of the very popular Dexter series of crime novels (now a succesful American TV series, starring Michael Hall),  at the Brisbane Writers’ Festival to discuss writing about killers. The discussion – killing people, on paper – chaired by Richard Fidler, was aired on Australian radio and is now [...]