Elizabeth Laird

Elizabeth Laird was born in New Zealand but she grew up in London. She has lived in many parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Malaysia, Iraq and Lebanon. She has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Book Prize ('Jake's Tower' and 'The Garbage King') several times. She has won the Children's Book Award and the Smarties Prize ('Hiding Out'). She lives in south-west London with her husband.