Conor Kostick was a designer for the world's first live action role-playing game, Treasure Trap. He lives in Dublin where he teaches medieval history at Trinity College. He is the author of many historical, political and cultural articles. Epic was his first novel and was awarded a place on the International Board on Books for Young People Honours list for 2006 and on the Booklist Best Fantasy Books for Youth list for 2007. The sequel to Epic, titled Saga, was first published in Ireland in 2006. Kostick received a Special Merit Award from the Reading Association of Ireland in 2009.