Michael Hardcastle was born in Huddersfield. After leaving school he served in the Royal Army Educational Corps, before embarking on a career in journalism, working in a number of roles for provincial daily newspapers from reporter to chief feature writer.$$$He has written more than one hundred and forty children’s books since his first was published in 1966, but still finds time to visit schools and colleges all over Britain to talk about books and writing. In 1988 he was awarded an MBE in recognition of his services to children’s books. He is married and lives in Beverley, Yorkshire.