Paul Maar is one of the most important modern German writers for children and young people. He is a novelist, playwright, translator and illustrator. He was born on 13 December 1937 in Schweinfurt. After the early death of his mother he lived with his grandfather in the rural area of Theres in northern Bavaria. He went to school at the Gymnasium in Schweinfurt, and later studied at the State Academy of Arts in Stuttgart. He then worked as a stage designer and stage photographer for the Franconian castle theatre Massbach. After that he spent ten years as an art teacher. Since 1976 he has worked as a freelance writer. He lives in Bamberg with his wife and three children.