Brian Falkner was born and raised in Auckland. He is the author of several novels for children and teenagers including, The Flea Thing, 2003 (AKA Henry and the Flea) which was shortlisted for the LIANZA Esther Glen Medal; The Real Thing, 2004; The Super Freak (AKA Super Freak) which was shortlisted in the NZ Post Awards 2006; and The Tomorrow Code (shortlisted, NZ Post Awards and the Esther Glen Medal, 2009). Brainjack won the Sir Julius Vogel Science Fiction Award (Young Adult).Prior to becoming a children's author, Brian trained as a journalist and then worked as a reporter and an advertising copywriter, a radio announcer and an internet developer. His hobbies include scuba-diving, travel, amateur theatre, photography and rugby.He lives on the sunny Gold Coast of Australia.