Roland Vernon was born in 1961 and educated at Eton, King's College Cambridge, and the Royal College of Music.

Roland Vernon lives and writes in Somerset, where he also runs his own marquee company. After graduating from university he trained as an operatic tenor, and for a short time pursued that career, before opting for a more settled country life. He is married with three sons. Previous books include Star in the East, a biography of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti and the novels A Dark Enchantment and The Maestro's Voice.