Biography
JO SWINNEY was born in West Sussex but grew up in the Algarve, Portugal at A Rocha, with her parents and three siblings. She went to boarding school in the UK and took a gap year in Zimbabwe before coming back to the UK for university where she studied English literature and African Studies at Birmingham University. Jo then went on to do a Masters in Christian Studies at Regent College, Vancouver where she met her American husband, Shawn.
Shawn and Jo have lived in Buckinghamshire for seven years, the longest either of them have lived anywhere. Shawn is ordained in the Church of England and is a youth worker at St James, Gerrards Cross. They have two daughters, Alexa (4) and Charis (1).
Jo wrote her first book, Through the Dark Woods, when she was 26 and working at the National Society for Epilepsy. Since having the children she has continued to write, and is hugely grateful for both elements of her life. As well as the children and the writing, she loves cooking for people (including herself!), reading, running, trying to grow vegetables, picking blackberries, and making new friends.
