Mark Haviland was born in London's East End.  After studying French and German language and literature at Oxford University, he returned to the East End, where he became involved with a community arts project.  Later he migrated to Australia, where he met his wife Judy.  He worked for some years at the Japanese Consulate in Melbourne before quitting paid employment to be "mister mum" to his daughter Ariel  ( who now lives and works in London ), and to write.  He lives in the Dandenong Ranges on the outer fringe of Melbourne with his wife Judy, two dogs, three chickens, a rabbit and a hive of bees.