Born in England in 1952, Clare Bell worked in television production, welding, design, and computer testengineering before she wrote her first book, Ratha's Creature, the story of a prehistoric wildcat who learns to tame fire. Since that time, she has continued to write fantasy and science fiction for children and adults. Included among her works are the further adventures of Ratha in Clan Ground and Ratha and Thistle-Chaser. Her time-travel fantasy Tomorrow's Sphinx, which involves a pair of cheetahs, also showcases the author's fascination with wild cats. Her stories tend to have sociological themes as well, exploring the changes that are brought about in human culture through technology. Bell says that the central theme of her fiction is evolution, and she lists the fantasy and science fiction of C. S. Lewis, Arthur C. Clarke, and Olaf Stapledon among her influences. Bell holds degrees in biology...