Imogen Robertson

I grew up in Darlington in the North East of England, studied Russian and German at Cambridge and before I started writing full-time I directed children's television, film and radio. There is less sticky paper and glitter in my life now. Shame. I decided to try and make a career out of writing after I won the Telegraph's 'First thousand words of a novel' competition in 2007 with the opening scene of Instruments of Darkness, my first book. 

I've written six novels as Imogen Robertson - five in the Georgian Westerman and Crowther series and a standalone, Paris Winter. Paris Winter, Island of Bones and Theft of Life have been shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger. Since Theft of Life was published, I've co-authored King of Kings and with the legendary Wilbur Smith, and Liberation the story of WWII SOE operative Nancy Wake, with Darby Kealey under our joint pseudonym Imogen Kealey. I also wrote a political thriller with Tom Watson and work as a ghost writer. I love co-authoring - it reminds me of the creative energy of a team I loved while working in TV.

I have also written two contemporary thrillers as Marina Palmer, The Russian Doll, and The Last Retreat. I live in London with my husband, cheesemonger and author, Ned Palmer, and am Chair of the Historical Writers' Association