Joan Druett was born in Nelson, New Zealand. She is an author and maritime historian. She gained a BA in English literature form the Victoria University of Wellington and worked as a teacher of biology and English literature for many years. She lives in Wellington with her husband. She also writes non-fiction books and wrote science fiction stories under the pseudonym 'Jo Friday'. She is the creator of 'Wiki Coffin', a half Maori and half American linguist on board the U.S. Exploring Expedition in the 1830s. Visit also this site.