I grew up in the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, in a rural town. I left New Zealand at 18 and lived, worked and traveled in the UK, USA, Finland and Saudi Arabia before returning to Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington where I currently live with my partner and two children.

After completing a BA(Hons) in literature, I worked in communications and web content development. I then established my own business providing content writing and editing services to tech companies and academics in the US, Europe and Australasia. After completing a Masters in Creative Writing (Distinction) in Prose at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, I began working as a freelance editor and writer, spending two years at Te Herenga Waka University Press (THWUP) as an editor.