And it’s the birthday of author John Boyne (books by this author), born in Dublin in 1971. He knew he wanted to be a writer ever since he was about 14, and after college, where he studied literature and creative writing, he took a job at Waterstone’s bookstore in Dublin. He’d write for a few hours each morning, and then edit between customers at the cash register. After publication of his third novel, he was able to quit his bookselling job and write full-time.

He’s published about 70 short stories and eight novels, including The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2006), which he wrote a draft of in two and a half days. He told an interviewer, “On Tuesday night I had the idea. On Wednesday morning I started writing, and by Friday lunchtime I had the first draft.”