Penny Freedman has taught English and Drama in schools, colleges and universities. Her experience as director of English Language courses for overseas students forms the background to her murder mystery, 'This is a Dreadful Sentence'. She has always been an enthusiastic amateur director and actress and has had short stories and theatre criticism published. Her book on Shakespeare's language was published in 2007. She has two grown-up daughters and now lives with her husband in Stratford-upon-Avon, where she writes and lectures on Shakespeare in performance. Penny’s new novel is the sixth in a series of novels featuring English teacher, Gina Gray.