William Taylor

Born in England in 1938, he moved to New Zealand as a child and later became a primary school principal and mayor of Ohakune before turning seriously to writing. He began publishing fiction in the 1980s and went on to write more than 30 novels for children and adults.

His work was especially celebrated in New Zealand children's literature. Among the honors noted by major publisher and reference sources are the Esther Glen Medal, the Aim Children's Book Award, the Margaret Mahy Medal, and Italy's Premio Andersen award.

Readers often remember his stories for their humor, strong characters, and lively sense of place. He died in 2015, leaving behind a body of work that stayed popular with young readers and helped secure his place as one of New Zealand's notable writers for children and teenagers.