Gwendoline Riley was born in 1979 and has published several successful novels: Cold Water, which won a Betty Trask Award; Joshua Spassky, which was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and won the Somerset Maugham Award; and, most recently, Opposed Positions.

"Original and beautifully written... An inspiring book that you won't forget" Big Issue "A blinding follow-up to the award-winning and much-acclaimed Cold Water... A joy to read and a read to treasure and pass on" Scotsman "A portrait of an artist, a writer observing herself living. As such it is quite breathtaking" Times Literary Supplement "Riley's prose powerfully articulates the drinking, the depression, the itchy ache of growing up and the misery of first love... One of Britain's most original young writers" Observer "This is a young writer of immense promise" Literary Review