Steve Voake is a successful English children's author from Midsomer Norton, Somerset, whose books have sold all over the world. In 2003 he was head teacher of a primary school in Kilmersdon, Somerset, when the BBC reported that he was being hailed as the next J. K. Rowling. A bidding war had broken out amongst publishers and film makers for the rights to his first novel, The Dreamwalker's Child. The deal he accepted with Faber and Faber enabled him to give up his teaching job to be a full-time writer. Since then he has published nineteen books and a further three have been commissioned. The novelist and critic Amanda Craig has regularly praised his work. The Times often includes his books in its recommended lists of top children's books. The School Library Association has included one of his novels in its list of recommended books for boys. He also contributed to the Higher Ground Project, a book featuring leading children's authors that was published to raise awareness of the Boxing Day Tsunami.