Tanya Byrne was born in London and studied in Surrey, where she still lives with her cat who goes by several names, none of which he actually answers to. After eight years working for BBC Radio, she left to write her debut novel, Heart-Shaped Bruise, which was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award. Tanya was also shortlisted for New Writer of the Year at the National Book Awards. Her second novel, Follow Me Down was published to huge critical acclaim in 2013. She has travelled all round the country; to speak to crowds at the Edinburgh festival and to classrooms of young people.