Dinah Lampitt

Dinah Lampitt is a British novelist, born in Ilford, Essex, who has gained recognition for her historical novels set in England. She was born to a Bavarian father who had emigrated to England between the wars and a Welsh-English mother. Lampitt's family has a rich history of creativity and storytelling, with her great-grandfather being a professional musician and nobleman known as the bard of Eisteddfod. Her grandfather also claimed to be a relative of the famous writer, Thomas Hardy.

From a young age, Lampitt had a passion for English and History and enjoyed reading ancient stories to her classmates. She began writing short stories as a child, which she would share with her father, and continued to do so throughout her teenage years. Lampitt's family moved to a sixteenth-century house in Chiswick during her teenage years, where she enjoyed exploring the river and walking on the Strand on the Green. Despite her love for writing, Lampitt was uncertain about her future and pursued journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic.

It was while working as a journalist that Lampitt discovered her true passion for writing. After being assigned to write the Woman etiquette column, she realized that she wanted to focus on creative writing. Lampitt eventually secured a job in the newsroom at The Times and later at The Evening News, where she met her future husband, Bill Lampitt, the assistant editor.

Under the pen name Deryn Lake, Lampitt has written numerous historical novels, including the series "The Lady Fan Mysteries," which is set in eighteenth-century England. Her writing is known for its attention to detail, rich historical context, and engaging storytelling. Lampitt's love for history and her family's legacy of storytelling have come together to create a successful career as a novelist.