Born in Puglia, southern Italy, Mina Drever came to England with her family age fifteen, not speaking English. She got into university four years later, and went on to become a teacher of foreign languages at many levels, teacher trainer and inspector of schools. She is married to Angus, has one son, Jonathan, and two grandchildren, Daisy and Jay. Her daughter-in-law, Lucy, designed the book cover for Thank you lady.
