Natascia Casey-Dean was born in Italy, but brought up in rural England. She finished her first story, ‘Sian Had No Friends at School’, aged six and has written short stories and novels ever since. She studied for a Literature and Creative Writing Masters at the University of Sussex, and taught in Spain and England before escaping to Italy to write a novel. She’s now returned to Brighton and to the sea, and lives in a basement with her boyfriend and kitten whilst waiting for their baby to be born. She’s been highly influenced by Graham Greene, Raymond Carver and John Cheever.