Philip Cole-Wilkins, Phil to most of his family and friends. He is 57 years old and have been married to his wife and best friend, Tricia, for 36years. They have two sons. Ian aged 29 and Craig aged 27, whose exploits as brothers definitely inspired the book, although a Dragon is about the only thing they haven't brought home!. He lived all his life in and around the Church Village and Llantwit Fardre area of Pontypridd, about 8 miles outside Cardiff and is a very proud Welshman. He worked for 30 years at an electrical engineering company until a very serious virus and diabetes cut short his working life. It was a huge shock and has taken a lot of getting used to, but worse things happen at… sea, so he was told!!. IHe was up to that point a very keen sportsman and coached kids, including his own, at Rugby Union, the national game of Wales, and, also loved the game of golf. He still enjoy watching both sports but surprisingly miss the golf more than he does the rugby. He love word games, crosswords etc. He write poetry, most of it for self reading, but who knows one day he may just share it with the world!. The dog Smudge in the book is named after their own dog, a mongrel that looked like a retriever and acted like a lord, he cost us a box of chocolates and ended up being worth a kings ransom. He was always brought up with a dog and was determined that his boys should be also, it was an experience they will never forget and whilst he was with them he changed their lives for the better. He is a keen reader and Wilbur Smith along with Daniel Silva are at the top of his list of authors. He enjoys writing and hope s that this will the the first of many books by him.