Alex Shearer was born in Wick in the north of Scotland, and now lives in Somerset. He has written for television, radio, film and the stage and is the author of many books for children, including the Guardian Childrens Fiction Prize shortlisted The Speed of the Dark. Several of Alexs novels have become films and TV series, all over the world; one became both a manga comic and a full length anime film in Japan. His books have been translated into many different languages.