Jem Lester

Jem Lester was a journalist for nine years and saw the Berlin Wall fall in 1989 – and though there, he denies personal responsibility. He was also the last journalist to interview the legendary Fred Zinnemann, before the director died. He denies responsibility for that too. As Mister Lester, he taught English and Media studies at secondary schools for nine years. He has two children, one of whom is profoundly autistic and, for them, he accepts total responsibility. He lives in London with his partner, Catherine and her two children.

Jem’s first novel, SHTUM, for which he won the 2013 PFD/City University Prize for Fiction, was published by Orion in April 2016.