I was born in London and spent my teenage years in Hertfordshire where I spent large amounts of time reading novels, watching daytime television and avoiding school. Failing to gain any qualifications in science whatsoever, the dream of being a forensic scientist collided with reality when a careers teacher suggested that I might like to work in a shop. I don't think she meant Harrods. Later studying law, I decided to teach rather than go into practice and have spent many years teaching mainly criminal law and criminology to young people and adults.
The Cat Noir series was inspired by the real Aubrey, a large tabby rescue cat that lived with us for fifteen years. He was given his name by my husband, who was reading John Aubrey's Brief Lives at the time. As Aubrey said later, he was just grateful not to have been called Brief. One day my husband turned to me and said, 'do you know, that cat always looks purposeful. As if he's just off to his club, or he's got a bit of admin to catch up with.'
Or maybe a crime to help solve ...
I enjoy reading crime novels, doing crosswords, and drinking wine. Not necessarily in that order.