Robert J. Harris was born in Dundee and studied at the University of St. Andrews where he graduated with a first class honours degree in Latin. He is the designer of the bestselling fantasy board game Talisman and has written numerous books, including Leonardo and the Death Machine, Will Shakespeare and the Pirate's Fire, the popular World Goes Loki children's series and The Thirty-One Kings. He lives in St. Andrews with his wife, Debbie.