Tom Connolly is the author of two critically acclaimed novels, The Spider Truces and Men Like Air. His work is recognised for its strong sense of landscape, both rural and metropolitan, and for the interplay between darkness and comedy in his characters’ lives. Men Like Air was selected for the WHSmith’s ‘Fresh Talent’ promotion. The Spider Truces was a Financial Times book of the year and long-listed for the Desmond Elliott prize.
Tom has written short stories and articles for Esquire magazine, the Observer, the Independent on Sunday travel section, the Guardian and BBC Radio 4. His debut radio drama, The Man in the Lift, was nominated for the Imison award. He has been an Arvon guest speaker and workshop leader for the Creative Writing Programme. His focus and love is working one-to-one with writers and academics on their own work. His literary heroes are William Maxwell, Richard Ford, Marilynne Robinson, Dennis Johnson and Nadine Gordimer.
Before writing his first novel, Tom spent twenty years working in film production, starting as a tea boy in the camera department and going on to direct award-winning short films for Channel 4 and the BBC and directing music videos and commercials around the globe. He lives on the Sussex coast with his family, is a school governor, windsurfer and Arsenal season ticket holder and member of the Society of Authors and BAFTA.
