Sue Walker is the author of numerous books for children. Her title Best Friends was selected as a Notable Book by the Children's Book Council, and many of her poems, articles and short stories have appeared in magazines. Sue was inspired to write Arnie Avery after spotting four teenagers and one old lady at the local pool. All of them found their way into this book. Sue wishes she knew their names so she could thank them for the role they played in bringing Arnie's story to life. In the past Sue has worked in a bank, several schools, a bookshop and a cemetery. She now works from a studio in her backyard in Sydney, where she lives with her husband, three children and a scruffy white dog.