Tanya Landman was born in Kent and grew up with a love of small animal rescue and a dread of dancing in public. A graduate of English Literature, she worked in a bookshop, an arts centre and a zoo, before turning her hand to writing when the inspiration for Waking Merlin came to her out of the blue. She lives in Devon with her family, two dogs and a Siamese cat. She is an active performer and puppeteer with Storybox Theatre. A dedicated supporter of children's litrature, Tanya visits schools and libraries all year round with her puppet shows and to talk about her books. She lives in Bideford, Essex.