Lucy Irvine was born in 1956 in Whitton, Middlesex.She ran away from school very early and had no full-time education after the age of thirteen.She has been employed as a charlady, monkey-keeper, waitress, stonemason's mate, life model, pastry-cook and concierge.She has also worked with disabled people and as a clerk at the Inland Revenue.Lucy Irvine is the author of a novel, One is One, as well as Castaway and an account of her early years, Runaway.She has three sons and lives in the Highlands of Scotland.