Sally Nicholls was born in Stockton-on-Tees. As a child she made up stories and loved reading, even trying to emulate George in the Famous Five by having her hair cut short. After school she travelled abroad in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. While taking a masters in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa she wrote Ways to Live Forever, which was published shortly after. Her other novels include Season Of Secrets and All Fall Down, another teen historical fiction novel, which was shortlisted for the Independent Booksellers Week Award. She currently lives in Oxford.