Chris Priestley was born in Hull in 1958, spent his childhood in Wales and Gibraltar, and his teens in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He has been a successful illustrator for many years, working mainly for newspapers and magazines. His first book as author, Dog Magic!, was published in 2000 and shortlisted for the Children’s Book Award. Since then he has written several books for children, both fiction and non-fiction, and lives and works in Norfolk with his wife and son.