Brent Leslie is an Auckland journalist, magazine editor and writer. He gained an arts degree from the University of Auckland and began his career in journalism at the New Zealand Herald before working in television for more than 20 years as a journalist, director and dramatist. The television work that gave him the most satisfaction was as a writer/director in the fledgling Maori Programmes Department of Television New Zealand. Among many programmes he made were several explaining the loss of Maori land and a TV comedy series. In more recent years, Brent has edited several business magazines and the NZSA (PEN NZ Inc) publication, New Zealand Author. He has written several books for younger children and this is his second novel for young adults. His first, Jock Logan and the Sea Devil, was published in 2012 and was one of only 40 books selected by the NZ Society of Authors for their stand at the prestigious Frankfurt Book Fair. It is a fictionalized adventure story of a boy caught up in the real life escape of Count Felix von Luckner, aka the Sea Devil, from Motuihe Island during World War One. Ashton Wylie children’s competition judges in 2012 described it as:…”a cleverly written blend of fact and fiction…fun…easy to read.” Brent has two adult children – a son and a daughter – both lawyers. His favourite recreation is playing tennis.