Bob Ellis was born in Lismore, Australia on May 10, 1942. He became a political writer through his opposition to Australia's military involvement in the Vietnam War. As a journalist, he covered campaigns in Australia and around the world. He also worked as a speechwriter for the center-left Labor Party. He wrote approximately 20 books during his lifetime including Goodbye Babylon, So It Goes, Night Thoughts in Time of War, Goodbye Jerusalem, and The Ellis Laws. He also wrote the screenplays for the movies Newsfront and The Nostradamus Kid. He died from liver cancer on April 3, 2016 at the age of 73.