Ann Turnbull knew from an early age that she wanted to be a writer. After working as a secretary for many years, Ann returned to studying and started to train as a teacher. It was then that she rediscovered children's literature and began writing for children herself. Her first novel was published in 1974 and she is now a full-time author. She has written more than thirty books for children and young adults, including Pigeon Summer, which was shortlisted for the Nestle Smarties Book Prize, and No Shame, No Fear, shortlisted for the Guardian's Children Fiction prize and the Whitbread Children's Book Award. Ann lives with her husband in Shropshire.