Zoe Stead is an honours graduate in English Literature from Lancaster University. She has been an avid writer since the age of twelve and enjoys experimenting with anything from screenplays to poetry. The Amulet of Vichalace is her first published novel, but she has already started work on the following books in this current series. A passion for art has lead Zoe to create her own illustrated stories, comics and prints which she sells at conventions to help pay for art materials and even more graphic novels to add to her already substantial collection. She is a great fan of Japanese animation, including manga, and finds it has been a great influence on her own art work. Also, as a member of the ACWS - an American Civil War historical re-enactment society - Zoe can sometimes be found running round a muddy field, dressed as a man, shooting people - but only at weekends. She currently lives in Sheffield and is engaged to Matt, a trainee law teacher she met while trying to run him through with a sabre at their local university fencing club. Zoe's ambition is to be a full-time writer and illustrator and to own her own art studio. She doesn't mind where, so long as she's allowed to make as much mess as she wants.