Ted Bell received a B.A. in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. Before becoming a full-time writer in 2001, he was president and chief creative officer of the Leo Burnett Company. He was later named vice-chairman of the board and world-wide creative director of Young and Rubicam, one of the world's largest advertising agencies. He won numerous awards for his work including Clios and Cannes Gold Lions. At age 25 he sold his first Hollywood screenplay, Screamathon, to producers Joel Michaels and Garth Drabinsky. He writes the Hawke series and the Nick McIver Adventures through Time series.