Marcus Sedgwick was a British writer and illustrator, born on 8 April 1968. He was renowned for his young adult and children's books, as well as picture books, a work of nonfiction, and novels for adults. Sedgwick also illustrated a collection of myths and a book of folk tales for adults. His works for young adults were particularly acclaimed.

Floodland (2001) won the Branford Boase Award, and The Dark Horse (2002) was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. His 2011 novel Midwinterblood won the 2014 Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association.

Marcus was also a musician and had a deep fascination with Edgar Allan Poe, which inspired some of his works, including a story titled "The Heart of Another." He passed away on 15 November 2022.