Penelope Todd grew up in Christchurch and now lives in Dunedin with husband, son, cat and dog. She was a nurse for many years before taking up writing. She is now an editor for a local publisher. Her writing has taken her in recent years to Spain, to the Chateau de Lavigny international writers’ residency in Switzerland, and in 2007 to Iowa for the International Writers’ Programme. Penelope has written several novels about teenagers, and a memoir.