I was born and raised in London, England, and lived in London and Cambridge until I met and married a Texan mathematician, despite my declaration that I would never marry someone from another country. Also contrary to my plans, we ended up mostly working in the Southern United States. We've been living in Mississippi for about ten years, but I make sure I take my two girls back to England each summer to cultivate an English accent (not to mention escape the heat!).
  Although I have studied or taught English for most of my adult life, it was only in the intial homesickness of moving to the States that I began to write fiction as a form of escape. I continued my writing journey with the support of the talented and eclectic group of friends I have met in Starkville, MS, and with the worldwide encouragement of my historical fiction critique group. I have a historical novel published locally in England, and my current project is a series of mysteries set in medieval Florence and featuring real-life poet and notary Lapo Gianni, part of the young Dante's circle. I am very excited to have recently signed with a literary agent to sell this series! My latest nonfiction publication is a high school curriculum for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Ivanhoe.
  In addition, I am a member of The Daughters of the King, a religious order of prayer and service based in the Episcopal Church. When not involved in any of the above, I love to relax by not knitting very well.