Growing up in the Philippines, Candy Gourlay wondered why all the books she ever loved only featured pink-skinned children who lived in snow-covered worlds that didn't resemble her steamy, tropical home in Manila. As a result, it took her years to fulfil her dream of becoming an author - and years to learn that Filipino stories too, belong in the pages of books. Candy's novels for young readers, Tall Story and Shine , have been published to acclaim and listed for many prizes such as the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Book Prize. Both novels won the Crystal Kite Prize for Europe. She lives in London with her family, where she wages war on the snails in her garden.