I was born in Surrey, England, in July 1976. My writing career kicked off at the age of thirteen, when I won an award in the WHSmith Young Writer Competition. Her short story on vengeful ghosts and reincarnation was published in an anthology along with the works of thirty other major prizewinners - one of which included future Hollywood actress Kate Beckinsale.
At nineteen, I managed to get my first by-line in a national newspaper during a work experience placement at The Times. After reading History at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, I worked briefly as a journalist before moving into the world of high finance.