As a kid, I found my adventures in books. Historical fiction, fantasy, sci-fi. And lots of dog stories. I was the poster child for the Chester Public Library. But no one can read all the time. So I also became a runner, trained dogs, and worked in an animal shelter. When I grew up I went to South America. I worked as a journalist and traveled through jungles and deserts, met presidents and terrorists. I lived through a war. It was exciting. It was also terrifying, awful, and heartbreaking. Sometimes the worst things make you feel the most alive. My books are about that. The things that make you feel alive. I put strong kids in unusual situations, dangerous situations. Then I see what happens.