Originally from Dublin, she lives in Kildare, Ireland with her husband and daughter.

Tanya started writing for her local West Dublin newspaper at the age of 11, reporting on Dublin Zoo, the Coca-Cola factory and 'backstage' at McDonalds. She later moved to London to complete a master’s in journalism at the University of Westminster.

From freelancing as a music supervisor for Film Four and working in PR/Communications for MTV, to later becoming an A&R scout for Warner Music, Tanya worked across the music, film and TV industries in various roles before returning to Dublin, where she then became a music journalist at Hot Press magazine.

For the last 15 years, she has been a columnist in a number of Irish newspapers and magazines, among them the Dubliner, STELLAR, U, Irish Tatler. She was previously a columnist for the Irish Times Magazine and had written a personal column on pregnancy for the newspaper. She is currently a journalist and Weekend magazine columnist at the Irish Independent and is a regular contributor on Irish radio & TV. She also has a Master's in screenwriting.

Her debut novel Esther Is Now Following You, a funny, fresh and deeply affecting, story about celebrity, fandom and what happens when it all becomes a bit too real, was published by Bantam Press in January 2026

Praise for Esther Is Now Following You

‘It was SUCH a pleasure to read Esther. Tanya’s voice is so funny and moving. Esther’s story shows how trauma and loss can lead to fixation and mental illness. There’s such a sad story at the heart of the book but it’s told with great verve and lightness of touch. I really REALLY felt for her – and also for Johnny. The dialogue is chef’s kiss! This is such a great book - it’s hard to believe it's a first novel - it’s done with great confidence and conviction. People will LOVE it!’

Marian Keyes, No.1 Sunday Times bestseller

‘I loved this book. Messy Essie is a wonderful character. A wild ride of a read, funny yet poignant, it is a gripping page turner.’

Liz Nugent, No.1 Bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond

'Light and dark all at once – sharply observed, full of heart, and easily the funniest book I’ve read this year, I adored it and was rooting for Esther right to the end.'

Andrea Mara, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of No One Saw a Thing

‘Unlike anything I have ever read before.’

Sophie White

‘I picked up Esther and couldn't put it down. It's so brilliant. I just loved it.’

Sarah Breen

‘Sharp, funny and written with a whole lot of heart.’

Mary Watson, author of Irish Times bestseller The Cleaner

'Tanya Sweeney is a brilliant writer. She really has it all. A smart, funny, emotional new voice with the added bonus of perfect, snappy, zingy prose. Esther is Now Following You is funny and sad, dark and light, poignant and cringeworthy all at once. I honestly couldn't put it down. It had me laughing out loud at points, cringing behind my fingers at others, and had me close to tears. A brilliant book about growing up, wishing up and realising what - and who - is important in life.'

Edel Coffey, No.1 Irish Times bestselling author of Breaking Point

‘A hugely impressive and compulsive debut, crackling with humour, real heart and piercing insight - and starring a heroine (or anti-heroine?) you won't soon forget. I devoured it in one glorious gulp.’

Catherine Ryan Howard, internationally bestselling author of Burn After Reading

‘There are characters who captivate you while reading, but I guarantee Tanya Sweeney’s gloriously complex heroine will live in your head long after finishing Esther Is Now Following You...thrilling, hilarious, and at times, deeply moving. Sweeney manages to balance a compelling layered plot with an astute insight into women’s lives and the ease with which any one of us might slide into the darkness of online life. The assuredness of style and the sheer exhilaration of the storyline make this an absolute belter of a debut. Very soon, everyone will be following Esther!’

Frances Crawford, author of A Bad, Bad Place

‘I completely loved it. It's a rare find when a book makes me laugh, sob and read late into the night - but this one managed all three! Esther is a brilliant character - I backed her all the way - even at her most derailed moments.’

Emily Edwards

‘I loved this book. A perfect mix of mad bitch energy, desperate loneliness and the realities of Internet fandom. I loved and loathed Esther at various stages, but was rooting for her no matter what. The kind of debut everyone dreams of.’

Emer McLysaght, author of Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling

‘This is a sharply written story that focuses around an adrift woman in London who escalates into becoming a stalker after a series of negative events. The book deals sensitively with miscarriage and also depicts the experience of being in a dying relationship beautifully. I loved this and was amused but often moved by Esther. She's a relatable character and her descent felt credible and well planned out. The author's understanding of psychology was strong. I was utterly immersed in this and hope that Sweeney writes more. She's a talented author as well as being a great journalist.’

Chris Bridges

‘Both tragic and comic, it left me a bit breathless and unsure whose side I was on at times. I tore through this one, which I thought handled difficult themes in a unique and interesting way.’

Laura Pearson

‘Hugely looking forward to this bookish treat in 2026, soooo culturally on point’
Elizabeth Day

‘Razor-sharp and, as expected, wonderfully written. A cautionary tale with a lot of heart, it’s one of 2026’s most anticipated debuts.’

IMAGE Mag

‘MEET YOUR NEW FAVOURITE WRITER – such a timely read about parasocial and a woman who begins stalking a famous actor. I raced through this funny yet unsettling book – and found it all too relatable.’

Good Housekeeping, Best Debut Novels for 2026

‘Already a well-established name in Irish journalism… her debut novel should catapult her into a whole new area of renown..and looks set to be the smash of 2026.’

Irish Times, 50 People to Watch in 2026

‘Gossipy, darkly funny, and deliciously unhinged, Esther captures the chaotic energy of early-2010s internet culture, feeling like a sharp pop-culture time capsule. Combining Fleabag’s humour, Green Dot’s obsessive longing, and the momentum of Baby Reindeer, Sweeney crafts a compulsive psychological thriller that has drawn widespread acclaim.’

Cosmopolitan, Best Books for 2026

‘A debut novel about one woman’s emotional struggles deftly lays bare the dangers of obsession in the age of social media… Esther is Now Following You is a witty, riotous, and topical examination of extreme parasocial relationships and an exploration of the boundaries between fandom and obsession. You will feel yourself drawn into Esther’s quest, overwhelmed with the urge to share her but, ultimately, hoping she finds peace and contentment.’

The Bookseller

‘A new release expertly skewering the power dynamics between fans and famous people.’

Stylist

Rights Sold:

UK, Commonwealth (Transworld, Penguin Random House)

Germany (Bastei Lübbe AG)

Ukraine (Book Club “Family Leisure Club”)