Born in Cheshire, England, Ross McLeod studied at Stockport College and the Open university. His work, as a risk assessment engineer, took him to many parts of the world and into many interesting places, including gas exploration platforms in the North Sea, nuclear submarines and many of Scotland's and Northern England's prisons. This mind-broadening lifestyle has given him a vast and comprehensive insight into the diverse and complicated world in which we live and whether writing for children, or an older readership, as Len Cooke, his travels and experiences have given him an ability to write with authority, humour and an understanding of both his characters and his craft that is very hard to match. Now retired from his 'usual day job', he lives 'quietly, apart from when the grandchildren (code-named the SAS) come round' with his wife, Pip the Border collie dog and Penny, the ever mischievous, Main Coon cat.