Claire Williams lives in Cheshire, UK with her husband and children Ava and Henry. She is proud to be called a ‘Clayhead’ – a person born in the Potteries (Stoke on Trent) and will always turn over a china cup to see where it is made. She is a huge fantasy fan and will often be found snuggled in front of the TV watching a sci-fi or fantasy movie. Smailholm is her first novel, inspired by visits to the Scottish Borders on family holidays.