Originallyfrom Dublin, Clare O'Dea has lived in Switzerland since 2003. After studyingFrench and Russian at Trinity College Dublin, she had a varied media career inIreland, with a freelance stint in Russia. Clare worked for the statebroadcaster (RTE), the Irish Times, Today FM and the Guna Nua TheatreCompany. In Switzerland, she worked for ten years for the international newsservice of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation.Her firstnon-fiction book, The Naked Swiss: A Nation Behind 10 Myths, waspublished in 2016 by Bergli Books. A second updated edition followed in 2018.Clare turned to Ireland as a subject for her second book, The Naked Irish:Portrait of a Nation Beyond the Cliches, published in 2019 by Red StagBooks. She has published several short stories; her story 'The Favour' wasshortlisted for the 2018 Hennessy New Irish Writing Awards and another story,'The Obituary', was highly commended in the 2019 Irish Book Awards.Clare grewup in a bilingual home speaking English and Irish. She now speaks fivelanguages. She lives in the bilingual (French/German) town of Fribourg with herhusband and three daughters.

'Understated and elegant' -The Irish Times'This is a beautifully written study of Ruedi and Margrit, loosely connected by their past, bonding over a life changing decision causing both parties to reflect on their lives and relationships without sentimentality. The short length of the novel lends itself perfectly to the life expectancy of Margrit. Profoundly moving, I loved this book.' -Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond'Before The Leaves Fall once again shows O'Dea as a competent writer, unafraid to examine the relevant and vital issues of ordinary lives in Switzerland. The power of self-determination shines through in this touching read.' -Anne Griffin, author of The Island of Longing'A beautifully written story of unlikely friendship and the choices we face as we reach the end of our lives. Profound, poignant and refreshingly honest, this is very much a novel for our times.' -Annie Lyons, author of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett'A poignant account of the lost boy trapped inside an old man, and his chance reconnection with a woman who touched his life when hers is almost played out. Told with compassion, wisdom and insight, it considers how death can offer a new perspective on life. It stayed with me long after I reached the end.' -Martina Devlin'Magnificent... a beautifully written insight into humanity, our flaws and the means to atone and come to terms with both ourselves and others. Not a single word is wasted in this exquisite narrative. The themes of the novel are as eternal and profound as the exploration of character. Clare O’Dea considers grief, love, family, acceptance and, essentially, life. The narrative is written with such sensitivity, such understanding and without any judgment so that it provokes intense thought in the reader, genuinely impacting their entire outlook' —Linda's Book Bag'The novel deals with weighty themes – mortality, regret, personal agency – yet it never feels heavy. Instead, it offers a kind of stillness. The writing is spare but full of heart... compassionate, finely observed and deeply humane' —746 Books'Moving and humane' —A Life in Books