As a child, Brigitte Blobel was surrounded by thousands of books, old and new (her father was a great reader and collector). Brigitte never read any children's literature. She loved poems and telling lies to see if anyone believed them. Whenever she found the world unbearable (which was often), she retreated to her cave in the woods, where she hid, even at night. Brigitte started writing when she was 10 years old. She sent her work to different magazines and newspapers, but got published only once. She and her husband (who is an editor at the German magazine Der Spiegel) have seven grown children from their blended marriage. Brigitte herself has two children; her daughter is a journalist, and her son, who is a doctor, gives her advice on her books. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Brigitte has also lived in Italy and Africa (her favorite place). Brigitte and her husband have a farm on the island of Mallorca, in Spain, where they make wine, grow orange and olive trees, and keep geese as bodyguards. They also have a home in Hamburg. Most of each winter is spent in South Africa. Brigitte is inspired by the changes in our civilization. Her advice is to have a positive outlook about people, nature, and life in general. Her books for younger readers have been translated into 18 different languages. She also writes novels for adults.