Daniel Cullen

Just like Jac (the main character of the book, HOBS) I moved from inner-city London to a tiny Derbyshire village when I was 12. It was a difficult time; I was scared, alone - I didn’t fit. But, despite all of that, the place intrigued me. Instead of concrete and glass, there were woods and dales (and caverns!) it was magical.

As I made friends, I heard stories of the Hob; mischievous creatures that live underground and come out at night. To some, they were more than legend, they were an accepted fact - so much so that local farmers would leave bowls of milk out for them. I loved that. In a way, those stories helped me accept my new home.

I now work as a designer and illustrator, but the Hobs stayed with me. And now they're set loose in a new book: HOBS, the first in the Narrowdark series.