Celia Rees is an English author known for her diverse range of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. Born on 17 June 1949 in Solihull, West Midlands, she pursued her education at Tudor Grange Grammar School for Girls. She studied History and Politics at Warwick University, achieving a PGCE and a master's degree in Education from Birmingham University.

Rees began her career as an English teacher in comprehensive schools in Coventry, a position she held for sixteen years. It was during this period that she began to write, aiming to create books for teenagers that were "almost adult in style and content." In 1989, she left teaching and transitioned to part-time roles in Further Education and as an Open Studies Lecturer for Warwick University, before becoming a full-time writer in 1997.

Celia Rees has written over twenty young adult titles, which have been translated into 28 languages. Her work has been shortlisted for numerous awards, including the Guardian, Whitbread (now Costa), and W.H. Smith Children’s Book Awards.

Beyond her writing, Rees is an active participant in literary communities. She is a regular tutor for the Arvon Foundation, a member of the Society of Authors, and has served as Chair of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group. She is also a Fellow of the English Association.

Celia lives in Leamington Spa with her husband, Terence Rees. She has one daughter, Catrin, who is a lawyer in London.