Chris Bradford

Chris Bradford is a highly accomplished English author, best known for his award-winning Young Samurai series. What makes Bradford uniquely qualified to write this series is his extensive training in samurai swordsmanship, karate, ninjutsu, and Zen Kyu Shin Taijutsu, in which he has earned a black belt. The first book in the series, The Way of the Warrior, was released in 2008 and marked the beginning of a series that would go on to be published in more than 25 languages and nominated for over 30 book awards.

Bradford's dedication to his craft goes beyond simply writing about a subject. For his Bodyguard series, he embarked on an intensive close protection course to become a qualified professional bodyguard. During his training, he acquired skills in unarmed combat, defensive driving, tactical firearms, threat assessments, surveillance, and even anti-ambush exercises. Similarly, for his Soul Prophecy trilogy, he traveled extensively to experience first-hand the cultures featured in the story. His experiences include living with the Shona people in Zimbabwe, trekking the Inca trail, and meditating in a Buddhist temple amid the mountains of Japan.

Bradford's books have been widely recognized for their excellence, having won several awards, including the Northern Ireland Book Award 2011, the Hampshire Book Award 2014, the Brilliant Book Award 2014, and the Quick Read 2017. The Way of the Warrior is considered one of Puffin's 70 Best Ever Books, alongside Treasure Island and Robin Hood. He has been involved in several literacy campaigns, including being a featured World Book Day 2010 author and participating in the Read To A Million Kids campaign. Bradford has performed before more than 150,000 school children in more than 500 schools, 50 book festivals, and 25 countries. Before becoming a full-time author, he was a professional musician and songwriter. He is a strong supporter of teachers and librarians in their quest to improve literacy skills and provides free Teachers' Guides to his books on his websites.