Frances Hardinge was born and grew up in Kent, England and dreamed of writing at the age of four. She studied English at Oxford University and was the founder member of a writers' workshop there.

Her writing career started after she won a short story magazine competition. Shortly after winning she wrote Fly By Night in her spare time and showed it to Macmillan Publishers after pressure from a friend.

Novels

• Fly By Night (2005)
• Verdigris Deep (2007)
• Gullstruck Island (vt The Lost Conspiracy) (2009)

While Fly By Night was being finalised for publication, Hardinge signed a deal with Macmillan Publishers to produce three further novels.

Short Stories

Hardinge has written a number of short stories for magazines:

• Shining Man (In The Dream Zone, 2001)
• Communion (In Wordplay Vol. 1, 2002)
• Captive Audience (In Piffle Issue 7, 2002)
• Bengal Rose (In Scribble No. 20, 2003)
• Black Grass (In All Hallows, 2005)
• Halfway House (In Alchemy, 2006)
• Behind The Mirror (Serialised in First News, 2007)