Born in Dublin in 1952, Peter Sheridan has spent most of his adult life writing, directing and collaborating in the theatre. During the 1970s he worked with his brother, the film director Jim Sheridan, on many plays in Dublin's Project Theatre. Much of his work has focused on community arts. He received the Rooney Prize for Literature in 1977 and was writer-in-residence at the Abbey Theatre in 1980. His short film, The Breakfast, has won several European awards, and his first feature, Borstal Boy, was released last year. The first volume of his memoirs, 44: A Dublin Memoir, was published two years ago. He lives in Dublin with his family. Forty-Seven Roses is published this week by Macmillan at £15.99 in UK.