A.?L. Kennedy has written over a dozen books, including last year s The Blue Book (Little A). Twice named one of Granta s Best Young British Novelists, she has won the Costa Book of the Year Award (for Day) and a Lannan Literary Award. She is an associate professor of creative writing at the University of Warwick and a well-received stand-up comic. She contributes to many UK papers, including a column for the Guardian.