South African-Irish novelist Bree O’Mara among victims of Libya crash

South Africa novelist among Libya crash victims

JOHANNESBURG — A South African novelist was among those killed in the crash of a Libyan airliner, her publisher confirmed Thursday.

In a statement on its website, South African publisher 30 Degrees South said Bree O’Mara, who lived in the eastern city of Durban, had been flying to London to sign a British publishing deal for her second novel.

A Dutch boy was the only survivor of Wednesday’s crash in the Libyan capital that killed 103 people.

The Johannesburg daily The Citizen and 30 Degrees South co-sponsor a contest for unpublished writers that O’Mara won in 2007 for “Home Affairs”, her first novel. South African readers vote for the winner based on synopses of unpublished work.

O’Mara, 42, also held Irish citizenship.