LUCY ASHE is the author of CLARA & OLIVIA (Magpie, Oneworld publications), published as THE DANCE OF THE DOLLS in the US (Union Square & Co). Her second novel is THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES.

CLARA & OLIVIA was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger 2024.

She trained at the Royal Ballet School for eight years, first as a Junior Associate and then at White Lodge. She has a diploma in dance teaching with the British Ballet Organisation.

She studied English Literature at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, while continuing to dance and perform. She then took a PGCE teaching qualification and became an English teacher.

Her poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. She also reviews theatre, in particular ballet, writing for the website Playstosee.com.