Tony Ross was born in Wandsworth, but moved during the war to Cheshire. He ended up at the Liverpool Regional College of Art after despairing of working with his first love – horses. He went into teaching after a bad day in an advertising agency, where he was art director, and at first taught in all sorts of areas – design, advertising, typography. At that time he was drawing cartoons in magazines like Punch. He has written and illustrated many popular books for children including Foxy Fables, I'm Coming to Get You and Naughty Nigel, all published in Puffin. He lives in Cheshire with his wife and daughter.

PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH:
London; 10 August 1938

FAVOURITE BOOK:
Diary of a Nobody by G. and W. Grossmith

FAVOURITE SONG:
'Imagine'

FAVOURITE FILM:
Annie Hall

When did you start writing?
When I was four. I was first published thirty-one years later. Just slipped into it.

Where do you get your ideas?
They get me. Some come from memories. Some come from real children. Some come from everyday life. Most are quite unexpected.

Can you give your top three tips to becoming a successful author?
1. Write what you want to, not what you think is wanted.
2. Try to ignore writing style or technique, speak in your own voice.
3. If you find your writing uninteresting, others probably will too. Don't hold back!

Favourite memory?
Christmas morning with my family.

Favourite place in the world and ...