Adèle Geras was born in Jerusalem and spent her early childhood in many countries thanks to a father who was in the colonial service. She was educated at Roedean School, Brighton and St Hilda’s College, Oxford where she read modern languages. She has been an actress, singer and a French teacher but since 1976 she has written full-time and has published more than 80 books for children and young adults.

Adèle’s book Troy was Highly Commended for the Carnegie Medal, and a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book in the USA. She wrote Wishes for You for Piccadilly Press, a picture book illustrated by Cliff Wright. Her first adult novel was published by Orion in 2003 and she is also a prize-winning poet.

Adèle says: “I write the sort of books I enjoy reading. I’m the first person who has to be absorbed and interested. If other people like them as well, then of course I’m delighted.”

She lives in Manchester with her husband and a lovely cat called Mimi (Meems) and she has two grown-up daughters.