Wiles, Richard: - "Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Great Britain, in 1954, Richard Wiles has been a professional writer and editor for more than fifty years. He has authored several non-fiction books on a variety of topics - including a trilogy of humorous travel genre titles, 'Bon Courage!', 'Bonne Chance!' and 'La Source!' - and compiled two bilingual dictionaries aimed at English speaking ex-pats creating homes and gardens in France ('Dictionary of French Tools & Materials' and 'Dictionary of French Gardening Terms'. A retired hot air balloon pilot, he edits Aerostat, the quarterly journal of the British Balloon & Airship Club. He is also an illustrator and graphic designer. For the last decade he has been renovating his home, an ancient stone barn in south-west France. He has recently completed his debut historical fiction novel, The Serpent's Child, and is writing the second, Songs of the River. His website is www.richard.wiles.co.uk"