I was born and in Leckhampton, Gloucestershire. I went to local schools (Leckhampton and Pate’s Grammar), studied languages at Bath University and Education at Queens’ College, Oxford. After various attempts not to teach, working in a library (no money), as an illustrator (no money), I eventually knuckled down to teaching Italian and French for many years, before becoming a writer (no money). I’ve been a tutor at The Arvon Foundation, taught many creative writing courses at the Cheltenham Festival of Literature, been Writer in Residence for Gloucestershire Primary Schools, and I’m currently a committee member of the Cheltenham Festival of Literature.

Aside from writing and my two daughters, I love drawing (especially people), dressmaking (I’d be a crap nun, but I could make those playsuits out of curtains all right), traditional folk song and folklore, medieval architecture, talking to sheep, trying to cook, being a mum and daydreaming a lot. I love to hear people’s stories, telling stories to my children and, like many people, I still love to be read stories.