Colin Dann was born in Richmond in 1943. After leaving the local Grammar School he worked first for a large textile company before his real love – the world of books – brought him a job in publishing at William Collins in London. During this time, in odds hours at home, he wrote his first book THE ANIMALS OF FARTHING WOOD which was published in 1979 by William Heinemann.It was an immediate success, winning the Arts Council of Great Britain’s National Book Award for Children’s Literature, and has been translated into sixteen languages. The book has never been out of print since first publication. Six sequels and one prequel have followed, as well as a major BBC animation series.Colin has written many other animal stories including a trilogy about a pride of African lions. He is married and lives with his second wife Susie in a converted Oast House on the Sussex / Kent borders.

‘The Animals of Farthing Wood always made me very happy’ – Alison Flood, Guardian