Des Dillon was born and brought up in Coatbridge. He has written poetry and fiction, including Me and Ma Gal, (which won the recent World Book Day 'We Are What We Read' poll for the novel that best describes Scotland today) The Big Empty, Duck, Picking Brambles and Itchycooblue and has had several of his books adapted for film and television. His new book, The Glasgow Dragon, will be published by Luath Press in August 2004. He has worked as a teacher of English, a creative writing tutor and as a scriptwriter for High Road and River City. Des Dillon lives in Galloway.