Robert Sutherland is one of Canada's most successful YA novelists, having already published 13 novels. He has received numerous nominations and prizes for his fiction. His novels have been translated into French, Norwegian, Swedish, German and Korean. "Survivor's Leave" developed from his experience during WWII when he served as an anti-aircraft gunner on a Loch Class frigate (HMCS Loch Morlich). When his ship was in dry dock in London for repairs, he experienced the German V-1 bombing.