Dawn O’Porter

Dawn O'Porter is a British-Irish author, broadcaster, and screenwriter whose novels, memoirs, and television work are characterised by sharp humour, emotional honesty, and an unflinching willingness to tackle difficult subjects. Born in Dundee, Scotland in 1979, O'Porter grew up in Guernsey, studied at Liverpool John Moores University, and built a successful career in television presenting and documentary filmmaking before turning to writing. She was previously known as Dawn Porter, adding the 'O' when she married Irish comedian Chris O'Dowd. Her novels — Paper Aeroplanes, Goose, The Cows, So Lucky, and Cat Lady — explore female friendship, sexuality, grief, motherhood, and the messy realities of modern womanhood with a comic voice that is both sharp and compassionate. Cat Lady tackles midlife reinvention with characteristic wit and heart. Her memoir Life in Pieces, written during the COVID lockdowns after the sudden death of her close friend Caroline Flack, is raw, moving, and disarmingly funny. O'Porter is also known for her vintage fashion business, BOB by Dawn O'Porter, and her food writing. Her writing voice is distinctive — warm, irreverent, occasionally outrageous, and always emotionally honest. She writes about women's lives with the specificity and humour that comes from genuinely paying attention. The audiobook editions of O'Porter's books — often narrated by talented performers — capture her comic timing and emotional range beautifully. Her books and audiobooks are perfect for readers who love sharp, funny writing about women's lives, friendship, and the complicated business of being human.