The family live and work in the shadow of smouldering fires formed in the creation of alum. The life is hard, at times desperate; a landslide leaves them homeless and the King's Press Gang threatens to take their brother. This moving tale of personal courage and community strength brings the past to life with touching humanity.

Theresa Tomlinson was born in Sussex. The daughter of a vicar, she spent her early childhood in various places in the north of England. As a child she had no interest in writing, but she loved reading. Her main interest was drawing and painting. She attended Hull College of Art, and later trained as a teacher at Hull College of Education. She taught as an infant teacher for five years

Theresa and her husband live in Whitby, North Yorkshire, where Theresa spent her childhood. Over the years she has acquired an outstanding reputation for her historical novels, particularly those, likeWolf Girl, set on the north-east coast of England.

Shortlisted twice for the Carnegie Medal and for the Sheffield Children's Book Award, Theresa takes a keen interest in the area where she lives.

Recent visits to Turkey have fuelled her enthusiasm for the ancient mythology of that part of the world. Her scrupulous research has resulted in two epic stories,The Moon RidersandVoyage of the Snake Lady.

A glimpse of life in the eighteenth century in the North of England, told through the lives of Ann and Polly Langtoft.