1956 - born Boston, USA
1957 - start of normal suburban childhood
1958 - read Dr Seuss and Maurice Sendak
1959 - censured for using only black crayon in nursery
1966 - read Black Stallion, A Wrinkle in Time, The Good Master
1971 - read Dostoevsky, Hemingway, Judith Krantz
1974 - entered Harvard University
1977 - moved to London
1977 - discovered The Clash
1980 - moved to NYC
1980 - first publishing job
1984 - read Virago books
1986 - first NYC advertising job
1988 - Deputy Press Secretary NY State democrats
1989 - returned to London (still there)
1990 - first London advertising job
1992 - fired from first London advertising job
1992 - second London advertising job
1993 - fired from second London advertising job
1994 - third London advertising job
1995 - read Isabella Bird, Wilfred Thesiger, Maurice Herzog
1996 - fired from third London advertising job
1996 - fourth London advertising job
1997 - fired from fourth London advertising job
1998 - last advertising job
2003 - wrote How I Live Now and Meet Wild Boars
2003 - resigned permanently from advertising
2004 - wrote Just In Case
2005 - wrote Wild Boars Cook and Jumpy Jack and Googily
2006 - wrote What I Was, publication date 08-07
2007 - began new novel, working title Pegasus; Guardian blog
2008 - spring, publication of Jumpy Jack and Googily and Wild Boars Cook