Alex Burn was severely dyslexic in his younger years, making school a large personal struggle. Thanks to Moon Hall, a specialist dyslexic school in Surrey, he was able to surpass all expectations he had for himself and gain a degree in Product Design Technology from Brighton University. He has now worked in engineering for over 13 years, across areas ranging from commercial products, restoration of historic structures and precision measurement equipment. Alex's personal experience of education and his career in engineering inspires his writing and the worlds he creates.

William Taylor feels like a total school failure and misfit. That is, until his life is turned around when he receives an invitation from his favourite teacher to enter the hidden Thomon world and join Belbury Academy. Here he is not perceived as a school failure but a highly gifted individual. William embraces this thrilling and advanced world, where he learns to use an object-altering, imagination controlled device called a Hadron-Tool. However this exciting adventure soon turns dangerous when he uncovers a plot by Krevak Ragwort to control world-altering technology, and must be stopped at all costs.