Martin Waddell is one of the most popular and successful authors for children. His books have been published internationally and sell worldwide. They range in age from read-aloud, full-colour picture books for the very young to books for teenage and young adult readers. He has written more than ninety books (some of them under his pseudonym, Catherine Sefton) and has won many awards. He is married, with grown-up children, and lives in Newcastle, County Down. Martin won the won the Hans Christian Andersen author award in 2004 from IBbY International, in recognition of the range of his work throughout his career as a children's writer.