Louise Hoole was born in England, grew up on the remote Atlantic island of St Helena, and has spent many years in Africa. She is the author of seven books including Talking to the Ancestors (about East African art), Seven Wonders (about the world heritage sites of Tanzania), and The Mtwara Story (about deep-water exploration). Black Rock, her first novel, explores the exile of Napoleon Bonaparte on St Helena, and is published by Barranca Press. Louise travels widely between Africa, Asia and Europe, and works as a freelance writer and editor for a range of clients from the BBC to the United Nations.