About Me

I’m the author of novels A THOROUGHLY MODERN MARRIAGE, TWO FOR JOY and TO HAVE AND TO HOLD.

You can read about my books and how I ended up writing them on My Books page.

I was born and brought up in Liverpool (well, Halewood, actually – which is just outside Liverpool), though I now live in East London with my husband, my daughters and the world’s neediest cat. 

I left Liverpool to study English at Oxford University with an absolute certainty that, in the words of Gerry and the Pacemakers, Liverpool was the place that I always would stay. But in my very first week at uni, I fell in love with the man who became my husband and things changed. He was a Londoner and I was a Scouser, so we initially compromised on Birmingham (amazingly, that is actually what we did – though the fact we’d both got jobs in the Midlands may have been a factor as well…).

But after a while, the gravitational career pull of London took over for both of us, and we settled in Walthamstow, East London, which I absolutely love (and make sure gets at least a passing cameo in every single book). Since then, we have had two children who have been the biggest part of my life- in ways which are mostly wonderful and occasionally terrifying. That’s been the subject of much of my blogging for the last decade (the word cloud at the bottom of this page doesn’t lie). 

Becoming an author has been a joy that I never expected. I talk a bit more about that here. 

17 comments

  6. Hi there, just stumbled on your blog by a succession of web browsing twists & turns – and I’m delighted! I love your posts, your graphics and your book sounds fab. Massive congrats on the publication…you must be floating on cloud nine now (with a sore hand from all that signing and hopefully a sore head from lots of celebratory champagne?!) :-)

    I also read English at Oxford and am a fellow bibliophile…I’ve signed up for your email alerts so look forward to reading more of your posts and to reading your book…

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    • Thank you – so glad you’ve enjoyed the blog. I did have a fab launch day (and, in fact, weekend) so Monday morning did come as a bit of a shock today!

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  7. Hi Helen, Good luck with the book. I used to work with your Mum, so made sure I purchased a couple of copies for the library service. Just started reading it. Already an interest among staff. Will let you know how we get on. Perhaps get you up to Knowsley for an ‘author’ event! Best wishes, Frank

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    • Hi Frank, thanks for getting in touch. Would love to hear how ‘Two for Joy’ gets on, and am always up for author events! All the best, Helen

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  8. Hi I really love two for joy especially as it is set in the place I grew up – wanstead I even drank in the cuckfield as a teenager and then further on u mention a Matthew edgington which was my maiden name!! A bizzare coincidence or did u find some reference to the surname in and around the area? If a coincidence it is certainly comforting returning to long forgotten places
    Tracey x

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  9. Hi helen i went to school with you, very proud to have known you, congratulations on writing your books.
    I will surely be reading them! Well done! Best wishes.

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