Katy Dixon

I was born and brought up in Liverpool, way back in the 1970s (faded technicolour polaroids, anyone?). With seven older brothers and sisters, it was a full 1930s semi-detached house, and it wasn’t quiet! Luckily for me, this were the days of the 11+, which meant I was fortunate enough to win a place at Bellerive Convent Grammar School: ‘A School for the Daughters of Young Gentlemen’ as it was described in its early years, housed in four fabulous merchant villas near glorious Sefton Park.

As a(n almost fanatical) lover of reading and writing stories, my aim was to study English at university somewhere, but two excellent history teachers kindled a lifelong love of the subject (history. Hmm…) and with one of those inspiring teachers mentoring me, I entered an essay competition at Cambridge University (title: China; what a subject!) and managed to land a place there, at the fabulous New Hall as was (now Murray Edwards)

I’m a Liverpool lass, and returned Oop North on graduation - in the late 1980s, that raised an eyebrow or two! But the I always had faith The ‘Pool would bounce back – and it has.

I went with a career in finance, it was definitely the ‘done thing’; and honestly, the idea of a freezing garret whilst writing my Magnus Opus (affectionately know as the Magnificent Octopus) never really did it for me.

Finance is a fascinating career, it’s given me a very broad spectrum of skills you might not think associated with it, which also help with writing (project management, people?), and yes (cliché alert), I’ve met some fabulous people and made many very good friends.  It even introduced me to my husband!

But the writing never really went away, ideas kept coming, and chapters got written here and there, and somehow, finally, there was a whole book (supportive husband, cheerleader best friend, understanding boss… oh, yes, and that pandemic thing). And thanks to the incredible team at Troubador, it’s published…

Whilst I work on the next one (and the next, and the next…)