Debbie Young is an accomplished author known for her warm, witty, and feel-good contemporary fiction inspired by life in the Cotswolds. She has lived in this picturesque region of England for over 30 years, and her two series of novels, the Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries and the Gemma Lamb Cozy Mysteries, are set in this beloved location. Young adds at least one new book to each series each year, providing a consistent stream of engaging and entertaining stories for her readers.
Born and raised in Sidcup, Kent, Young enjoyed a quiet suburban childhood until her family moved to Germany when she was fourteen. She then attended the Frankfurt International School and graduated with an International Baccalaureate. Young went on to earn her degree in English and Related Literature at the University of New York in the UK. She worked as a PR consultant and journalist in West England and London before settling in the Cotswolds, a place she had always wanted to live.
Young's Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series begins with 'Best Murder in Show' and follows the events and happenings of the idyllic English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow throughout the course of a calendar year. The series includes 'Murder at the Mill' and 'Murder in the Highlands,' which take place on a Greek island and the Scottish Highlands, respectively. The ninth book in the series, 'Driven to Murder,' will be published in January 2023.
The Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series is a mashup of romantic comedy, gentle mystery, and nostalgia for classic children's school stories. The series begins with 'Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's' and follows the academic year at St Bride's Boarding School for Girls.
In addition to her novels, Young has also published several collections of short stories, including 'Stocking Fillers,' 'Marry in Haste,' and 'Quick Change.' Her standalone novella, 'Mrs Morris Changes Lanes,' is a second-chance mid-life romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism.
Young is a frequent judge of writing competitions, including the Stroud Short Stories spoken word event, and was a regular panel member of BBC Radio Gloucestershire's monthly Book Club show until Covid restrictions put an end to studio guests. She is also a UK Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLI), for the children's reading charity, Read for Good, and for the JDRF (Type 1 diabetes research charity). She advocates for Read With Me, a Gloucestershire charity aiming to ensure all children in the county leave primary school able to read fluently.
Young lives with her Scottish husband and teenage daughter in a Victorian cottage in the Cotswolds, with a traditional country garden, and writes in a peaceful hut at the bottom of her garden. She enjoys giving talks and performing her fiction at literature festivals and writing events around the country. Young is also the founder and director of the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival, which takes place in her home village.