Tim Dowling was born in Connecticut in 1963. He attended Brien McMahon High School and graduated from Middlebury College in 1985. Shortly after moving to Britain in the early 90s he cut short a promising career in data entry to try his luck at freelance writing. Over time he eventually became unfit for any other form of employment. He now writes regularly for the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph Magazine. He lives in London with his wife and three sons.