Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born and raised in Shepherd's Bush, London, and worked in a number of commercial roles, beginning as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and progressing to Pensions Officer at the BBC. In 1973, she won the Young Writer's Prize, and in 1978, she became a full-time writer. She has published sixty books to date, including the twenty-five volumes of the Morland Dynasty series. Billslider can be found at www.billslider.com.