I graduated from the University of Sussex with a first class Honours degree in English Literature in 1996, and then spent many years working in the publishing industry and as Centre Director of one of Arvon’s creative writing houses, before focusing on my own research. I hold a PhD in Creative Writing: Teen Fiction from the University of Leeds. I have previously taught at Newcastle University, including the Writing for Children MA module; and at the University of Leeds, including the MA module Story Workshop.