Anne-Laure BONDOUX was born near Paris in 1971. She studied French literature and at the same time organized writing workshops for children with learning difficulties. In 1996, she joined the J’aime lire desk at Bayard Presse until 2000 when she decided to dedicate all her time to writing novels. In 2003, Les Larmes de l’assassin (The Killer’s Tears) was published. It has won more than 20 prizes so far (list upon request),the prestigious ’Prix Sorcières’ at the Paris Book Fair and the ‘French Television’ Prize, among others. In 2007 she also won the Notable Children Book prize, she was rewarded by the YALSA best book for Young Adults prize and finally had the Batchelder Honor book.