Jan Carson is a writer based in Belfast. She has published three novels, three short story collections and two micro-fiction collections. Her novel The Firestarters won the EU Prize for Literature for Ireland 2019. Jan’s latest novel, The Raptures, was published in Doubleday in early 2022 and was subsequently shortlisted for the An Post Irish Novel of the Year and Kerry Group Novel of the Year. Her short story collection, Quickly, While They Still Have Horses was published by Doubleday in April 2024.

Michelle Gallen grew up in Northern Ireland during the troubles, a few miles from the border. She studied English Literature at Trinity College Dublin and Publishing at Sterling University. Her debut novel, Big Girl, Small Town, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. Her critically acclaimed second novel, Factory Girls, won the Comedy Women in Print award and was shortlisted for the RSL Encore Award. Both books are being adapted for TV.