John Dougherty was born in Larne, Northern Ireland. In early secondary school, with a group of friends, he took to writing and illustrating comics - mostly about insects, since they were easier to draw than people - and from there, began writing other pieces of silliness. John had various jobs before becoming a full-time writer. These include voluntary work for Barnado's, a stint as a YMCA worker in Norwich, a summer camp rep, a machine operator in a tape factory in London and he was also a primary school teacher. John now lives in Stroud, Gloucester, with his wife and two children, where he spends his time writing, reading, putting on fantastic author events in schools, running for the local Athletics Club and playing his guitar. www.visitingauthor.com