T.A. Barron grew up in Colorado ranch country and traveled widely as a Rhodes Scholar. Though he'd dreamed of becoming a writer, he couldn't find anyone to publish his first novel. He joined a business, eventually became president, then decided to try again. So in 1989, he surprised his business partners by moving back to Colorado to become a writer and conservationist. Since then he has written over twenty highly acclaimed novels, children's books, and nature books, many of which are international best sellers. He has won the Nautilus Award, given to books that inspire a better world, along with many honors from the American Library Association and the International Reading Association. His books, now in twelve languages, include The Lost Years of Merlin (currently being developed into a feature film), The Great Tree of Avalon (a New York Times best-selling series), The Ancient One (the tale of a brave girl and a magical tree), and The Hero's Trail (nonfiction stories of courageous kids). His favorite pastime is hiking, camping, or skiing in Colorado with his family, which he does at every opportunity.