William A. (William Albert) Riley

Born in Bradford in 1866, he was educated at Bradford Grammar School and first worked in his family's business before becoming managing director of Riley Brothers Optical Lantern Company. He was also a Methodist local preacher for many years, and his deep attachment to Yorkshire stayed at the heart of his writing.

In 1911 he wrote Windyridge simply to cheer some young friends who were in distress. The book was published in 1912 by Herbert Jenkins as the firm's first title and became an immediate success, after which he moved into writing full-time.

He went on to publish dozens of books, most of them set in the Yorkshire Dales, and remained especially associated with Windyridge, his most famous novel. Later he lived in Silverdale in Lancashire, where he continued writing, lecturing, and contributing to the press for many years.