Deryn Lake is the pen name of the popular historical novelist Dinah Lampitt. Born in Eseex and raised in London, she trained and worked as a journalist on a variety of magazines (most notably Woman) as well as on Fleet Street. She married and had two childen before writing her first book. Fascinated by history, she researches her subjects thoroughly and packs her books full of accurate details. She currently lives close to the famous battlefield of 1066.