Eoin Colfer (pronounced "Owen") is a renowned Irish author of children's books, born on the South-East coast of Ireland in Wexford. He was raised with his four brothers by his father, an elementary school teacher, historian, and artist of note, and his mother, a drama teacher. Colfer developed an early interest in writing during primary school, inspired by the Viking stories he learned in history classes.

After earning a degree from Dublin University, Colfer began his career as a primary school teacher. He and his wife spent several years working abroad in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar (1998), was inspired by his time in Tunisia and led to his breakout success with the Artemis Fowl series in 2001, which has sold over 25 million copies and been translated into 40 languages.

The Artemis Fowl series remains a cornerstone of Colfer's career, expanded to include eight novels, several companion books, and a spin-off trilogy, The Fowl Twins. His body of work also includes The Wish List, The Supernaturalist, the Legends series, and Half Moon Investigations, adapted into a successful BBC television series. His versatility is further showcased in the WARP series and crime novels featuring Irish bouncer Daniel McEvoy.

Colfer was commissioned to write And Another Thing… (2009), the final installment in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. His collaborations include the picture book Imaginary Fred with Oliver Jeffers and the graphic novel Illegal with Andrew Donkin and Giovanni Rigano. His recent works, Global (2021) and Beanie and the Banshee (2024), further cement his reputation as a master storyteller.

For adult readers, Colfer's Highfire (2020) introduced a new fantasy world featuring a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon in a Louisiana bayou. A former Children’s Laureate of Ireland, Colfer is celebrated for his contributions to literature and remains a beloved figure in the literary world.