Anthony Viney lives in Mullingar with his wife, Kathy. He grew up in Germany and south London. After stints in the defence industry, the BBC and teaching, he settled on a career in social work in Northern Ireland. He has published a number of academic works and is a regular contributor to his local newspaper. His debut novel, On the Road to Damascus, is inspired by his journey through Syria during the early stage of the conflict, and by his meeting with war correspondent, the late Robert Fisk, in Beirut.