My daughter and I love watching period dramas and reading and talking about the Austen novels, and how her characters interact. I became fascinated by the idea of seeing the world through the priggish Mary's eyes, and understanding her hopes and fears - so I wrote this book.

Born in Scotland, of Japanese-English parentage, I grew up in Thailand, the Cameroons and Somerset. I studied at comprehensive school, then King's College Cambridge.

Now I live in Wales, where I recently moved with my partner to a dilapidated house overlooking the Bristol Channel, with big gardens at the front and back. We are slowly fixing the gutters, heating and plumbing; and creating a mini orchard, vegetable garden and semi-formal flower garden.

I'm part-retired and have given up teaching, however I still do research (on equalities and diversity). I drew on my knowledge of the history of agriculture, early feminism and class politics for this story.