Rose McDonagh was born and grew up in Edinburgh. She studied English Literature and History, has worked in community health for many years, including working as a trauma counsellor, and lives in Midlothian with her husband, their baby, and two cats.


Her writing has been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, the London Magazine Short Story Competition, the Dinesh Allirajah Prize and the Bristol Prize. Her first short story collection, The Dog Husband, was published in 2022 by Reflex Press.


One Came Back - which was longlisted for the Caledonia First Novel Award and the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize - is Rose's debut novel.