Brian Leyden lives in Co Leitrim. He is the author of the short story collection Departures and the novel Death and Plenty. He is a previous winner of the Francis McManus Short Story Award. His contributions to RTE Radio 1 include the Jacobs' award-winning documentary No Meadows in Manhattan and Even the Walls were Sweatin'. He has edited the Irish literary journal, Force 10. At the conclusion of his term as writer-in-residence in Leitrim, he edited the volume of new writing, First Cut.