Judy graduated from the University of Oxford in 1979 with a degree in Mathematics. She worked in industry and academia before taking a career break, returning to work as a part-time Mathematics Lecturer in 1994. Judy gained a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Liverpool in 2001 and then held post-doctoral research posts at Liverpool (in the Earth Science Department) and UMIST (in the Mathematics Department) before entering the NHS as R&D Manager at Alder Hey Hospital in January 2004. In 2006 she joined the newly-formed North West Stroke Research Network as its manager. This involved recruiting a team of research nurses, allied health professionals and administrative staff to facilitate recruitment to research studies at sites across the North West of England, from Carlisle to Crewe and from Southport to Tameside - a population of approximately seven million people. Currently she works part time as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Chester, while devoting the remainder of her time to writing. She is a Methodist Local Preacher and Secretary of the Parochial Church Council in the small village in Cheshire where she lives with her husband.