Margaret Joy was born on Tyneside and began her working life as a teacher. After contributing short stories to children's radio and BBC TV's Play School, she wrote her first full-length story for children, Gran's Dragon, set in Bristol. she now lives and writes in North Wales, where her husband was head teacher of a school for deaf children. They have four grown-up children, and have enjoyed several journeys abroad with them.
She very much enjoys visiting Theatr Clwyd - "a real bonus for North Wales" - and has tried to learn Welsh, although found it very difficult. In between visiting schools and libraries to talk to children, she swims, studies Italian, and researches local history.