Helen FitzGerald is the second youngest of thirteen children. She grew up in the small town of Kilmore, Victoria, Australia, and studied English and History at the University of Melbourne. Via India and London, Helen came to Glasgow University where she completed a Diploma and Masters in Social Work. She has worked as a criminal justice social worker for over ten years, most of it in HMP Barlinnie, where she helped to prepare serious offenders for release. She's married to screenwriter Sergio Casci, and they have two children.