Born in Whitby in 1953, Martin Travis was educated at the University of Hull where he took his BA in 1974 and his MA in 1976.  He holds a doctorate from the University of London at which he taught from 1980 until 2006. His first novel Making Out was nominated for the Booker Prize in 1981.

     Martin is a frequent guest at Literary Festivals and has contributed to arts programmes on both radio and television often in discussions about the contemporary novel.

     He is a keen supporter of Grimsby Town FC and can also be seen at Headingley and Lords.  Amongst his recreations he lists, listening to music, walking, going to the theatre and conversing with his wife with whom he shares three children and a red setter.   He lives in Tunbridge Wells and Southern Spain.