Emma was born in the medieval city of Norwich, England, a UNESCO City of Literature famous for being both the birthplace of the 14th century mystic and first woman to write a book in English, Julian of Norwich, and also the fictional home of Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge, two factors which likely had an equal influence on her authorial voice. She studied English Literature at Oxford University where she specialized in Austen, and went on to work as an actress in theatre and television.
Her first book was published in 2007 as Lost in Austen by Riverhead in the U.S. and Being Elizabeth Bennet by Atlantic in the UK, and was translated into French and Italian. In 2008, a profound spiritual experience took her on a different path for over a decade during which time she studied deeply both ancient and contemporary spiritual teachings, before returning to writing first in the form of poetry, and then landing back where she began with comic fiction.
A new and updated version of her first book is being published as You Are Elizabeth Bennet by Faber in October 2025 to coincide with the international celebrations of the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth.
Emma currently lives in Los Angeles with her two daughters, Eliza and Amelia, and labradoodle, Wally.