Born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage, Lynne Graham has lived in Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with her brother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then. Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her first book, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed a degree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was at home with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold her first book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in the local newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million of her books in print worldwide. She often uses Mediterranean and South American settings, because she thinks the hot and sunny climates are more atmospheric. Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest is her only natural child, and her other four children, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted, the two mediums from Sri Lanka and a the two small from Guatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, which adds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. The family lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which is wonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large and affectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy, an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves being chased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of the kitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from old toys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.