Katie W. Stewart's first major piece of writing was at the age of seven, when she wrote a ten-page recall of what she did the day she didn't go on the whole-school excursion. Fortunately, she has learned to write about more interesting things since then. Katie is an Australian author of fantasy fiction for all ages. She was born in Lancashire, England and emigrated with her family when she was nine years old. In her non-writing life she works as a library assistant and relief teacher at a small school in country Western Australia. She is also a farmer's wife, mother of three children and carer for a menagerie of pets. In her spare time, she illustrates books, designs book covers, paints pet portraits and plays celtic harp and guitar.