Janet McDermott is an Asian writer from Sheffield, where she has lived for most of her life. Working initially as a teacher, she has been active in her union, the women’s peace movement, the 1984/85 miners’ strike, and in local black community organisations including an Asian women’s refuge. She has been supported by the Yorkshire Arts ‘Inscribe’ project in the writing of this novel, completed between working as a counsellor and looking after her three adopted daughters. The novel won the Shorelines Novel Competition 2006, beating over 100 other entries.