Roopa Farooki's first novel, BITTER SWEETS was nominated for the Orange Award for New Writers in 2007, and her second novel, CORNER SHOP was published in 2008 to critical acclaim and translated internationally. Her third novel, THE WAY THINGS LOOK TO ME, featuring a family coping with autism, was named as one of The Times Top 50 Paperbacks of 2009, and was longlisted for the 2010 Orange Prize. She has recently published HALF LIFE, her fourth novel, simultaneously in the UK and US. Roopa lives in Kent, and in SW France, with her husband, her two young sons and her twin baby girls. She has been a lecturer for the MA in Creative Writing at Canterbury Christ Church University, and currently teaches creative writing for Kent Adult Education. She is the ambassador for Relate, the UK charity that provides counselling services for couples and families.