Neil is a graduate of the Faber Academy 'Writing a Novel' course, taught by Esther Freud and Tim Lott. Originally from Northern Ireland, he now lives in the seaside town of Whitstable in Kent. Neil, who has a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Kent at Canterbury, began his career working in health journalism and, for many years, worked as part of the PR team for UK learning disability charity Mencap. He currently teaches English part-time at a secondary school in Kent.