ALAN MCMONAGLE is a writer based in Galway, Ireland. In 2015, he signed a two-book deal with Picador, and his debut novel, Ithaca, was published in March, 2017 and nominated for the Desmond Elliott Award for first novels, a Bord Gáis Irish Book Award and the Dublin Literary Award. He has received awards for his work from the Professional Artists’ Retreat in Yaddo (New York), the Fundación Valparaiso (Spain), the Banff Centre for Creativity (Canada) and the Arts Council of Ireland. He has published two collections of short stories, Psychotic Episodes (Arlen House, 2013) and Liar Liar (Wordsonthestreet, 2008), both of which were nominated for the Frank O’Connor Short Story Award. His stories have appeared in many journals in Ireland and North America, and he has read from his work at many festivals at home and abroad. He also writes for radio and three radio plays (Oscar Night, People Walking on Water and more recently, Shirley Temple Killer Queen) have been produced and broadcast as part of RTE’s Drama on One season. His second novel, Laura Cassidy’s Walk of Fame, is due from Picador in March, 2020.