I've been writing novels ever since I could hold a pencil. I wrote my first at the age of five; it was called 'My Doll: Book 4' - because I didn't want readers to think I was inexperienced. By the time I got to secondary school I was writing exclusively historical fiction, because that was what I loved reading. My idols were Rosemary Sutcliff and Mary Renault, and their books are still among my favourites. I also love ancient and medieval fantasy, and am currently enjoying the novels of George RR Martin ('A Game of Thrones' etc.).I gave up writing to study Classics and Theology at Cambridge University, where I obtained a starred first class honours degree. Since then I've been writing again, and teaching: mostly Classics and Religious Studies.

I teach part time at St Bees School, Cumbria, where I have worked for nearly 25 years. My husband also teaches there, and we both ski, cycle, canoe, hike and climb whenever we get the chance.My five published novels, 'Rabshakeh', 'Zoheleth', 'Hadassah', 'A Fortress Among My People' and 'The Last Queen of Sheba' are all set against the background of Ancient Israel, and are woven around the stories of Saul, Absalom, Esther, Jeremiah, and the Queen of Sheba respectively. They have been translated into several languages by foreign publishers, among them German, Danish, Spanish and Czech. I have also written a non-fiction study of Esther entitled: 'Esther: For Such a Time as This'.My passion is bringing Old Testament characters to life, as complex, flawed human beings just like the rest of us.