"Since he started writing and illustrating children's books in 1990, Colin Thompson has had more than 65 books published. He has received several awards, including an Aurealis Award for the novel How to Live Forever, CBCA Picture Book of the Year for The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley and CBCA Honour Book and the Family Therapists' Award for The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness . He has been shortlisted for many other awards, including the Astrid Lindgren Award - the most prestigious children's literature prize in the world. Colin lives in Bellingen, Australia. His books with Random House Australia include How to Live Forever , numerous picture books, The Floods series, The Dragons series, The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness , Free to a Good Home and Barry .".