Robert Newton, the son of an Army Officer, spent his childhood moving to different postings around Australia. Six schools later, including a stint in Singapore, his family finally settled in Melbourne. After finishing school, Robert spent the next few years studying at university, travelling and trying his hand at various jobs. Thirteen years ago, he decided to join the Metropolitan Fire Brigade as a full-time fire fighter. To date, Robert has written five teenage novels which have been widely praised for their ability to combine humour with serious issues. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and two daughters.