John Dougherty was born in Larne, Northern Ireland, and not many years later they made him go to school--an experience he didn't find entirely enjoyable. Fortunately, the joys of reading helped him through the difficult times. It's therefore not completely surprising that when he grew up he became first a teacher (the nice sort), and then a writer of stories and poetry to make children giggle. He also writes songs, some of which her performs with First Draft, a band made up of three children's authors and a bookseller. He now lives in England with his two wonderful children, the original Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face.