Marita Conlon-McKenna

Marita Conlon-McKenna was born in Dublin where she still lives. Inspired by a radio report of an unmarked children's grave from the Famine period found under a hawthorn tree, she wrote her first book, the hugely successful Under the Hawthorn Tree (1990). Translated into many languages, the book was later made into a TV film and has entered the curriculum in many schools. Conlon-McKenna's other books for children include The Blue Horse, which won the 1993 BISTO Book of the Year Award, No Goodbye, Safe Harbour and the fantasy In Deep Dark Wood.