Joseph O'Connor's debut novel "Cowboys & Indians" was short-listed for the Whitbread Prize. His other works include the novels "Desperados", "The Salesman" & "Irishowen", the story collection "True Believers", the stage play "Red Roses & Petrol", & an anthology comic journalism, "The Secret World of the Irish Male". His work has been widely translated & won many prizes, including the Macaulay Fellowship of the Irish Arts Council, the Miramax Ireland Screenwriting Prize, & the Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year Award. He lives in Ireland.