Joel Thomas Hynes was born and raised in Calvert, Newfoundland. His previous book, Down to the Dirt, won the Percy Janes First Novel Award, was shortlisted for the Atlantic Book Awards and the Winterset Award, and was nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. It has also been staged to widespread acclaim and was recently adapted for the big screen. A celebrated author of novels, short stories and stage plays, Hynes is also a professional actor who has performed numerous leading roles for film, television and stage.