Will Hobbs is the award-winning author of several novels, including the Avon titles Bearstone, Kokopelli's Flute, and Far North, and the American Library Association has recognized four of Will's novels as Best Books for Young Adults. His novel Downriver was chosen as one of the ALA's 100 Best of the Best Books of the past 25 years. Winner of the California Young Reader Medal, Downriver was an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Downriver has been nominated for state awards in Texas, Utah, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington. Hobbs lived in many places during his youth, including Alaska, Texas and California. He and his wife, Jean, now live in the mountains outside of Durango, Colorado. Downriver and River Thunder draw heavily on Hobbs' own experience rafting down the Colorado and also demonstrate his tremendous love of and respect for nature.