Background
Chris d'Lacey was born in Valletta, Malta, Europe but as a child moved first to Leicester and then to Bolton.
Chris d'Lacey was born in Valletta, Malta, Europe but as a child moved first to Leicester and then to Bolton.
University of York.
He has also written many other books including A Dark Inheritance. After gaining a degree in biology from the University of York, he returned to Leicester and got a job at the University of Leicester in the Pre-Clinical Sciences department. Originally his writing was confined to songs and he didn't turn to fiction until he was 32.
He didn't write another story for seven years, until he heard about a competition to write a story for young children with a prize of £2,000. It was inspired by the time he found an injured pigeon in Victoria Park and nursed it back to health at home. After recovering, it lived another 14 years freely coming and going from a nest box attached to the back of the house.
All of its offspring were given the names of different Native American tribes, which is where the title of the book comes from. He has since written over twenty children's books, including Pawnee Warrior (a sequel to Fly, Cherokee, Fly), a collaborative novel with fellow children's author Linda Newbery (From E To You), and the best-selling, award-winning The Last Dragon Chronicles. His books often contain environmental themes, and events based on things that have happened to him.
In July 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester for his contributions to children's literature. Although writing is now his main source of income, he still works at the university as the operator of the confocal microscope.