Heather McQuillan used to be a teacher who wrote. Now she’s a writer who teaches. If she’s not writing in the room at the top of a spiral staircase, Heather can be found at Write On School for Young Writers in Christchurch, where she is a tutor and director. This is her fourth novel for young people. Heather loves being close to the ocean and hearing the waves but, on a still night, she is often disturbed by the thrumm thrumm thrumm of ships waiting outside the harbour.