Marita Conlon-McKenna is a hugely successful Irish children's writer. Her first novel, UNDER THE HAWTHORN TREE, sold 250,000 copies in the Irish market alone. Her debut adult novel, THE MAGDALEN, was a number one bestseller in Ireland, followed by PROMISED LAND, MIRACLE WOMAN, THE STONE HOUSE, THE HAT SHOP ON THE CORNER, THE MATCHMAKER, MOTHER OF THE BRIDE, A TASTE FOR LOVE,THREE WOMEN and THE ROSE GARDEN. She lives in Dublin with her husband and four children.