John Marsden, born on September 27, 1950, in Victoria, is a distinguished Australian author, educator, and school principal. He is highly recognized for his significant contributions to literature for children and young adults. His journey as a writer began while he was teaching, leading to the publication of his first book, So Much to Tell You, in 1987. Since then, Marsden has authored or edited over forty books, with his works being translated into eleven languages and selling more than five million copies worldwide.

In addition to his writing career, Marsden has been deeply involved in education. In 2006, he established Candlebark School in the Macedon Ranges, an alternative school that reflects his innovative approach to learning. In 2016, he further demonstrated his commitment to education by opening Alice Miller School, a secondary school with an arts focus, also located in the Macedon Ranges. Beyond his educational endeavors, Marsden is a patron of the youth media organization Express Media, highlighting his dedication to supporting young writers.

Among his many achievements, Marsden's landmark Tomorrow series stands out as the most popular book series for young adults ever written in Australia. The first book in the series, Tomorrow, When The War Began, has been reprinted 26 times in Australia alone. Following the success of the Tomorrow series, Marsden released The Ellie Chronicles, featuring Ellie Linton from the original series. The series continued to captivate readers, with subsequent novels released in 2005 and 2006.