Serendipity is an important part of a writer’s life, and it was luck that gave me the best story of my life – the one which became The Prisoner’s Wife. It’s an extraordinary true story of love and courage, which was told to me in a lift by an ex-WW2 prisoner of war. He said, “I bet I could tell you a story about the war which would make your hair stand on end,” and I was hooked.

I was born in London and have been writing stories and poems since I was six. After an English degree at Cardiff University I became a newspaper reporter, moving to BBC TV as a documentary writer / producer / director. I have published five poetry collections in the UK under my married name of Maggie Butt. My poetry website is www.maggiebutt.co.uk I have come across some great stories, and told them in a variety of forms, but none was as good as Izzy’s.

I have been married since 1982, and when our daughters were born I left the BBC and began teaching creative writing at Middlesex University. I’ve been there ever since, now as an Associate Professor. It’s been a huge delight and privilege to foster the writing of others. In addition to writing and teaching, I am an advisory fellow for the Royal Literary Fund and I was Chair of the UK’s National Association of Writers in Education from 2007 to 2012.

My husband and I divide our time between north London and Whitstable. In London I go to poetry events, art exhibitions and ballet; I meet my writing group, and see our two lovely grown-up daughters. In Whitstable I enjoy swimming in the sea (weather permitting!), beach-side walks and singing with the Oyster Singers community choir. We have wonderful friends in both places. Anywhere and everywhere I’m either reading or writing. In 2017 I organised an 8 hour poetry marathon which raised over £14,000 for a refugee charity, and next year I am organising two events for Poets for the Planet.

I love to travel and have been able to visit many parts of the world. As part of my research for The Prisoner’s Wife, my long-suffering husband came with me to the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany and drove the route of the Long March while I took endless photographs and scribbled notes. I am delighted that publishers in the UK, US, Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Portugal are as eager to share Izzy’s story as I am..