was born in Derbyshire, England. He graduated from university with a degree in history and has lived in Canada since 1990. He is also a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature of West Redding, CT. Simon offers a wide variety of presentations, workshops and author-in-residence programs for schools and libraries, covering such topics as the writing process, editing and revisions. He is a regular speaker at conferences and festivals, and has served as a juror for numerous literary prizes and awards, including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature in 2007. Simon, his two children, and his dog and cat live in Calgary.