Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an award-winning British author and illustrator. She is best known for her debut novel, The Girl of Ink and Stars, which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Her other works include The Island at the End of Everything, The Way Past Winter, and The Deathless Girls. Kiran was born in London and grew up in the countryside of Oxfordshire. She studied English Literature at the University of Oxford and then went on to pursue a career in publishing. She has worked as an editor, a bookseller, and a teacher. Kiran’s writing is inspired by her love of nature, folklore, and mythology. Her stories often feature strong female protagonists and explore themes of identity, belonging, and courage. She has been praised for her vivid and lyrical writing style, as well as her ability to create immersive and magical worlds. Kiran is passionate about encouraging young people to read and write. She regularly visits schools and libraries to talk about her work and to inspire the next generation of readers and writers. She is also an advocate for diversity in children’s literature and is a patron of the charity, We Need Diverse Books.