Hungarian–Irish writer Judith Pasztor Duffy, who lived in Galway for nearly a decade, is one of the 12 winners of the 2025 International Debut Novel Competition.

The competition, hosted by The Irish Writers Centre attracted entries from aspiring novelists from 37 countries. The 12 winners won the chance to pitch their manuscripts directly to top publishers and literary agents during the Centre’s exclusive Pitch Days. This allowed them to present their work directly to key industry decision-makers, bypassing ‘the slush pile’.

First launched in 2011 as the Novel Fair and renamed in 2025 as the International Debut Novel Competition to reflect its global ambition, previous winners of the event have signed publishing deals, won awards and built careers

This year’s winners work in genres from literary fiction to domestic suspense, experimental crime and coming-of-age narratives.

They include Judith who was born in Hungary and spent nearly a decade in Galway before relocating to Abu Dhabi, where she now lives.

A former journalist and marketing professional, she writes domestic suspense, set in expatriate communities.

“‘Since I live abroad, a phone call from home could be either very bad or very good news,” she said of being contacted to say she was a winner of the competition. Happily for Judith, “it was the lovely folks at the Irish Writers Centre” with very good news.

Pictured: Judith Pasztor Duffy.