Niamh NíMhaoileoin is an Irish writer living and working in Edinburgh. Her stories, essays and articles have appeared in Gutter, the New Statesman, The Millions, Sexualities and other publications. Her first novel, The Next Life, is an exploration of family, grief, queer identity, and the legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Ordinary Saints is the best debut novel I've read in a long time. Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin is a writer of immense delicacy, perception and heart, drilling deep into questions of faith, family and love. A beautiful novel and a huge talent. * Jessica Moor, author of Hold Back the Night * Funny and deeply moving. I adored it. * Chloe Michelle Howarth, author of Sunburn * Mesmerising and original, Ordinary Saints is quite a novel: an empathetic, heart-felt and nuanced exploration of the Catholic church in modern Ireland, queer identity, family and so much more. I absolutely loved it. * Victoria MacKenzie, award-winning author of Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain * Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin's writing has a real magic to it that hits you right from the first sentence. * Okechukwu Nzelu * I both learnt - and felt - a lot reading Ordinary Saints. An intriguing, compelling and deeply original debut. * Roxy Dunn, author of As Young As This * An engrossing and absorbing read . . . Uplifting and absolutely gripping. * Rachel Dawson, author of Neon Roses * An outstanding debut. Delicately woven through with the threads of modern Irishness. Emotionally intelligent, hilarious, superb. * Soula Emmanuel, author of Wild Geese * Deeply emotionally engaging and profoundly thought-provoking. A world I knew nothing about was opened up to me. A cracking great read; and one that stays with you long after you turn the last page. * Sui Annukka, winner of the Women's Discoveries Prize * A clever, emotionally complex, and unfailingly generous debut, I found Ordinary Saints both deeply moving and utterly gripping. * Kate Young, author of Experienced *