Marie Heaney was born in County Tyrone and began her teaching career in schools in Northern Ireland. She and her family moved to Dublin in 1972 where she still lives. As well as Over Nine Waves she has also written The Names Upon the Harp, a book of Irish legends for children (Faber, 2000, illustrated by P. J. Lynch) and as an editor with Townhouse Publishing in Dublin has produced several anthologies, including Heart Mysteries, a personal selection of Irish poetry.Marie Heaney has also contributed to newspapers and journals and has written for radio and television.