Conor Kostick is a renowned historian and writer based in Dublin. Born on 26 June 1964, he has made significant contributions to both history and fiction. Over the years, he has held prestigious positions such as the chairperson of the Irish Writers Union and a member of the board of the National Library of Ireland.

Kostick's literary works have earned him numerous accolades. Notably, his novel Epic was awarded a place on the International Board on Books for Young People Honours list for 2006, and it also featured in the Booklist Best Fantasy Books for Youth list for 2007. Epic, set in a fantasy MMORPG, is often considered an early example of the LitRPG genre. The success of Epic was followed by its sequel, Saga, first published in Ireland in 2006.

In addition to his writing, Kostick has been pivotal in shaping literature by nurturing new talent. In 2018, he became the commissioning editor at Level Up, focusing on publishing LitRPG books.