Anthony McGowan was born in Manchester in 1965. Educated at a Catholic comprehensive, he won't say that his character's schooldays are exactly based on his own but he certainly writes from experience. Before turning to writing full-time, Anthony gained a PhD in Philosophy, worked as a nightclub bouncer, an Open University tutor, a journalist and a civil servant. He is married with two children. In 2006 he won the Teenage Booktrust Prize for Henry Tumour, which was also shortlisted for the Sheffield Children's Book Award, Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Award, Redbridge Teenage Book Award and the Catalyst Award.
Combining brief flashes of ironic humour with the unstoppable momentum of unfolding tragedy, this sadly timely book offers a cogent reminder of the far-reaching consequences of knife violence -- Kate Agnew Guardian McGowan does not let us down lightly and ends the book with a twist that will leave even teenage boys gasping Daily Telegraph Anthony McGowan is one of the most talented writers around The Times This is a masterfully written and dark story of contemporary teen life, which deserves to be widely read and discussed -- Jean Allen Carousel Every writer hates to hear the words stunning new talent applied to someone else, but in the case of Anthony McGowan nothing else will do -- Meg Rosoff