Noel McCready was born in Banbridge town, County Down, Northern Ireland. He was brought up on a small farm and still retains an interest in agriculture. After graduating with an arts degree from Queen’s University in 1974, he worked for a short spell in administration before entering social work. As a qualified social worker, specialising in child care from 1980 to 1986, he investigated child abuse, wrote court reports and carried out fostering assessments, to name but a few aspects of the job. He has been teaching on a range of caring courses in two colleges of further and higher education from 1986 to the present. He has written learning materials in a paid

capacity as part of a child care project during the mid 1990s.

Hassles and Hope is Noel’s first novel. A range of emotions were rushing through his head as he wrote it after his mother died. It is written from the well of what he knows and his life experiences. The characters are believable and the plot realistic. The story lies firmly in the realm of fiction though ‘close to the bone’ of real life. The novel took two years to write and edit.

The writing bug has caught hold of Noel and he is writing a second novel, different in subject matter to the first. He still teaches, is married and lives in Belfast. His family are grown up.