J. E. Thompson began his career in finance and left Wall Street after catching the writing bug in 1994. He has written four successful adult thrillers, garnering much praise and recognition. When his daughter asked him to write something for her, Thompson began researching middle-grade fiction. His first foray into the genre, The Girl From Felony Bay, did well, earning status as the Winner Best Children's Book (Southern Independent Booksellers) and Finalist for Children's Best Book Award in SC, GA, ME, NE, KS, MD, Junior Library Guild Selection. He makes his home in South Carolina, a frequent setting for his books.