I was born on the Isle of Wight, grew up in the West Midlands and now live in East London. I've published two books: Smoked Meat (Flambard Press) a collection of interlinked stories set in Montreal, which was shortlisted for the 2012 Edge Hill Prize, and The Threat Level Remains Severe (Gallic Books), which is set in the House of Commons, where I have worked for many years, and was shortlisted for the Guardian's 2017 Not the Booker Prize.