I grew up in Coventry and Manchester and graduated in history from Oxford University. I then became a teacher of English as a foreign language, mostly out of a desire to live and work abroad. I was a teacher trainer for several years before moving into management, eventually becoming co-owner of a small chain of language schools.

I downshifted just before the pandemic in order to concentrate on writing novels. My most recent book, the product of many years of research, uses fiction to explore the origins of Christianity and the Bible.

I have extensive experience of giving presentations to groups of any size up to 180 people: teacher conferences in the UK, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine, including a prize-winning presentation in Kyiv, plus presentations to staff, students (children, teenagers and adults), and potential clients all over the world. I taught English online for the British Council during the pandemic and still teach face-to-face from time to time. I also work as a Humanists UK school speaker.