The great-granddaughter of John Moyer Heathcote, the real amateur tennis champion, the author was born into a tennis-playing family. Although tennis was always a treat and a passion, her career was in nursing (SRN, University College Hospital, London), which she pursued until three weeks before the birth of her first child. As a nurse, she particularly enjoyed looking after children. It was her love of children and tennis that inspired her to qualify as a tennis coach. She is currently a LTA-licensed coach (DCA) and PTR instructor and has over ten years’ experience.
Venetia lives in Surrey with her husband. They have three sons, a daughter, and granddaughter, all of whom play tennis.