This is the 3rd post in our Author of the Week series.
James Brian Jacques was born in 1939 in England. He is known as Brian because his father and one of his brother is called James.
Brian showed a love and talent for writing at an early age. At ten he was accused of copying a story because the teacher could not believe that a child of 10 could write so well. He left school at the age of 15 in order to find adventure as a sea merchant sailor.
He began writing the Redwall books for the children at Royal Wavertree School for the Blind. This is what accounts for the very descriptive nature of the books.
It was after a friend Alan Durband, brought the book to his own publisher, without telling Brian, that the books were published. Brian was contracted to write the next five books in the series.
Brian has stated that he bases his characters on people that he had encountered in his life. One of his characters, Goniff on himself when he was a young boy.
His books have sold over twenty million copies and is published in 28 different languages.
Along with the Redwall series which is based on the adventures of animals and for which he is most known, he also writes the Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series.
To learn more about Brian Jacques visit the official Redwall site and Scholastic.com
