Everyone has read "Leonard and Hungry Paul", it kept the country sane during Lockdown 2020! Two guys who would usually be unknown became our heroes through their gentle ways and the ordinary that makes them extraordinary.‍

‍Rónán Hession is an Irish writer and musician based in Dublin. His debut novel Leonard and Hungry Paul was published in 2019. It was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year, the Irish Book Awards and the British Book Awards. Leonard and Hungry Paul was selected by Dublin City Council as the 2021 One Dublin One Book. It was also chosen by the Sunday Times as one of the 50 Great Irish Novels of the 21st Century. Ronán’s second novel Panenka was published in May 2021. It was shortlisted for Novel of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards and the for Books Are My Bag Fiction prize. As Mumblin’ Deaf Ro, he has released three albums of storytelling songs. His third album Dictionary Crimes was shortlisted for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year. Rónán also reviews fiction in translation for the Irish Times. He is currently working on his third novel, Ghost Mountain, which will be published in 2024.‍Jackie Lynam is from Dublin, where she works as a librarian in Dublin City Libraries. She has had essays broadcast on Sunday Miscellany on RTÉ Radio 1, and has written articles for the Irish Independent. Her poetry has been published in several journals including two Washing Windows anthologies (Arlen House). In 2021 she was shortlisted for the Anthony Cronin International Poetry Prize.