Norman Handy was born in 1957 in Beckenham, Kent in the south east of England. He went to school in Beckenham and later went to boarding school in Cranbrook, Kent. He studied Business Economics and Accountancy, plus Law for Accountants at Southampton University. During his studies, he also travelled and after finishing university travelled and worked abroad. He returned to the United Kingdom and after some time working in a riding school, followed a career for thirty years in the financial services sector in London, including periods working overseas. He has two children and is a keen horse rider, walker and skier and of course, writer! He spends his time between his home in West Sussex and travelling.