Catherine O'Flynn

Catherine O'Flynn is a British novelist born in Birmingham in 1970 to Irish immigrant parents. Before achieving literary success, she worked in various roles, including as a record shop manager, postwoman, teacher, and mystery shopper, experiences which have influenced her writing. Her debut novel, 'What Was Lost' (2007), received critical acclaim, winning the Costa First Novel Award and being longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. She has since published further novels for adults and children, and contributes regularly to publications like The Guardian.