Ivy Ngeow was born and raised in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. A graduate of the Middlesex University Writing MA programme, Ivy won the 2005 Middlesex University Press Literary Prize out of almost 1,500 entrants worldwide. She has written non-fiction for Marie Claire, The Star, the New Straits Times, South London Society of Architects' Newsletter and Wimbledon magazine. Her fiction has appeared twice in Silverfish New Writing anthologies, in The New Writer and on the BBC World Service. Most recently, her story was published by Fixi Novo in an anthology, Hungry in Ipoh. Her first novel, Cry of the Flying Rhino, was the winner of the international 2016 Proverse Prize and was published in November 2017 in Hong Kong.
Ivy won first prize in the Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition 1994, first prize in the Barnes and Noble Career Essay Writing competition 1998, and was shortlisted for the David T.K. Wong Fellowship 1998 and the Ian St James Award 1999.
Ivy has been a highly accomplished multi-instrumental musician since childhood and won fifth prize (out of 850 entrants) in the 2006 1-MIC (Music Industry Charts) UK Award for her original song, Celebrity, when she formed her own band, Satsuma (2005-07). Her songs are funky, modern and eclectic, with strong urban grooves and lyrics. Satsuma has played headlining gigs at top London venues such as: The Marquee Club, The Troubadour Club, The Water Rats, The Betsey Trotwood, Plan B and Clockwork.