Elka Ray was born in England and moved to Uganda at the age of three months. When she was four, her family relocated to Canada, where Elka spent much of her early childhood living in geological survey camps so remote that they could only be accessed by float plane.

After studying Journalism and Asian Studies at university, Elka moved to Vietnam, where she has spent the past 15 years working as a writer and editor. Elka has held a number of media jobs, including training reporters at a business magazine; managing communications for a UNDP project; and doing PR for an oil company. She spent 10 years as assistant editor at Heritage, a magazine about Vietnam’s culture and travel destinations.

Elka’s published work includes articles in Vietnamese, Singaporean, British and American magazines and travel guides. Hanoi Jane is her first novel.

Elka is married and has two small children. She lives surrounded by coconut palms, banana trees and encroaching chaos on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.

Contact Elka at elkeray@yahoo.com

Tap dancing in the yard