Elizabeth Wein

I am an American/British dual citizen and have lived in Perth, Scotland since 2000. I learned to fly at the Scottish Aero Club in 2003, and the joy of flight soars at the heart of many of my young adult novels. I use historical events to spark stories of ordinary young people proving themselves in extraordinary times letting the past reflect our present.

I'm best known for my Carnegie shortlisted Code Name Verity, about the friendship between two young women, a pilot and a spy, in World War II. Code Name Verity and Black Dove, White Raven, about a mixed-race family of pilots in Ethiopia in 1935, were both shortlisted for the then Scottish Children's Book Award. Recently I've written Firebird and White Eagles, shorter novels for the dyslexic-friendly publisher Barrington Stoke.

For me, the best thing about being an author today is the chance to speak to readers and to encourage their own writing projects. I have run workshops literally all over the world, in Australia, China, North America and Europe! I like to bring a hands-on element to my events, sharing wartime and aviation artefacts and images with my audience, and using these to help inspire creativity. (Photo credit: David Ho)