Katharine E. Smith was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, and currently lives in Shropshire, with her husband and their two children. She has a degree in Philosophy from the University of Hull and has previously worked in the IT and charity industries.

Alongside writing her own novels, Katharine works with independent authors across the world in her day job, running Heddon Publishing.

"Like many authors, I have loved writing - and reading - ever since I was a child. It began with rhyming poems, progressing to angsty teenage verse, but all the while I was determined that one day I would write a novel. Now, as I type this, I have written eight - I have definitely found that once you've done it once your confidence grows and to be honest it's quite addictive.

"I am inspired by writers such as Kate Atkinson (definitely my favourite author), Anne Tyler, Ali Smith and Maggie O'Farrell, with a touch of Nick Hornby, David Nicholls and John O'Farrell thrown in for good measure. I hope that my books are realistic, amusing, evocative, funny and maybe, occasionally, a little thought-provoking.

"I have written three standalone literary fiction books and I am currently working on book seven of the Coming Back to Cornwall series. I have never lived in Cornwall, but often write about it, having holidayed there since I was a child. It's a place which somehow feels like home, and never fails to inspire me. I love taking my kids there and boring them with stories of my own childhood holidays."