Jenny Nimmo was born in Windsor, Berkshire. On leaving school she became a drama student and then taught English in Italy. She then joined the BBC and worked as a photographic researcher, assistant floor manager and director/adaptor for children’s programmes.

Her first novel, THE BRONZE TRUMPETER, was published in 1975. This was followed by THE SNOW SPIDER which was published in 1986 and won the Nestle Smarties Prize. This prize-winning novel and its sequels, EMLYN’S MOON and THE CHESTNUT SOLDIER were successfully adapted for television. Some of her other titles include, THE STONE MOUSE which was Highly Commended for the Carnegie Medal and GRIFFIN’S CASTLE which was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award, the Carnegie Medal, the Nestle Smarties Prize and the WH Smith’s Mind-Boggling Books Award. THE OWL TREE, published by Walker Books in 1996 won the Nestle Smarties Prize.

CHARLIE BONE AND THE HIDDEN KING, the fifth and final book in THE CHILDREN OF THE RED KING series, has just been published. The first title, MIDNIGHT FOR CHARLIE BONE, and its sequels, THE TIME TWISTER, THE BLUE BOA and THE CASTLE OF MIRRORS, have already enjoyed much success, not only in the UK and abroad (Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese editions have been sold) but especially in the USA where the most recent titles have been New York Times Bestsellers.

Jenny lives in Wales with her husband David Wynn Millward.

*The sixth thrilling magical adventure starring Charlie Bone*

Charlie has finally found his father, but he's disappeared again. However, this time Charlie knows where he is - on a second honeymoon with his mother. But there's no time to miss them, for there's a strange salty mist in the air, and chilling howls in the night. And someone has been searching Charlie's house.

What are they looking for? And could Dagbert, the new boy with pale lips and cold aquamarine eyes, have something to do with it? The new boy with the power of harnessing water, whose father has Cook so rattled she's threatening to leave the school. The new boy who sticks so closely to Charlie, his friends are almost driven away.

Something is going on - and the Bloors have to be behind it. Charlie and his friends must find the creature who howls so desperately. But will they be in time?