Conor Kostick's first novel, Epic, set all kinds of records in terms of monies and awards – €50,000 from Penguin USA for the American rights; a trip to China to accept the International Board on Books for Young People 2006 award and translations into all the major languages.
Saga, his second book, confirms the style and narrative skill of the debut novel, and will surely receive the same critical and financial success.

Dermot Bolger's The Townlands of Brazil, which explores social change in Ireland, and Ballymun in particular, has a fervent emotional core that is truly invigorating, says Colin Murphy

Éanna Ní Lamhna is kept awake by the scamperings of her furry visitors, but it's needs must for these little fellas

In the 1970s Peter Hain was the charismatic hero of the anti-apartheid campaign. In 2006, the North's secretary of state has morphed into an ambitious Blairite with his eye on the prize – the Labour leadership. By Colin Murphy

Renowned from Tom Moore's melodies and the TV series Ballykissangel, the Vale of Avoca is a pleasant place for walking.

It's Thanksgiving week and America has finally put the turkey on the chopping block. The celebrations that took place following the outright stuffing that George Bush and his cronies received in the midterm elections were a sight to behold. The air was charged with victory. House parties were held all over the country. There was a renewed sense of hope that a corner had been turned. Rumsfeld got the boot. Bush was seen shedding a tear. Even Cheney hung his wattled chin in shame. It felt as if the US had emerged from a terrible fever and now, at least, there was a prospect of cool air.

I was preoccupied with whatever I was doing at the time when out of the corner of my ear I heard the clipped English accent. There was a genuinely surprised and delighted-with-itself quality to the greeting. "I'm really pleased to see you."

For much of his life, George Hook was a struggling businessman. But in 1997, aged 57, an RTÉ appearance launched his career as a rugby pundit, eventually leading to his own show on NewsTalk. By Colin Murphy.

The Emperor of Misfortunes

The latest instalment of RTÉ's Would You Believe series was raw, brilliant television, unlike the drivel that passed for entertainment on the station's One to One series of interviews