Isabel Hoving

Isabel was born in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She began her career as a secondary school teacher, during which time she became very active in the Dutch women's movement. She eventually gave up her job to study literary theory full time, and spent some months in Senegal, West Africa for a research project – an experience which gave her a completely different perspective on the world and which she describes as a turning point in her life. Now an academic and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, Isabel lives with her partner and son in Amsterdam.

Isabel's first book, The Dream Merchant, was published in the Netherlands as The Winged Cat (De gevleugelde kat). It was a runaway success and won the 2003 Golden Kiss award, the Netherlands' most prestigious children's book prize.