Freya North gave up a Ph.D. to write her first novel, Sally. For four years she turned deaf ears to parents and friends who pleaded with her to "get a proper job". She went on the dole and did a succession of freelance and temping jobs. Five publishers entered a bidding war for the book, and her first novel, Sally, was published to great acclaim. Her subsequent books, Chloe, Polly, Cat, Fen, Pip , Love Rules, Home Truths and Pillow Talk have all proved bestsellers.