Niall Teasdale is a fantasy and science fiction author who was born near Hadrian's Wall, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most famous landmark in Northern England. Growing up near this ancient historical site may have influenced Teasdale's interest in history and imagination. He particularly enjoys the Dark Ages, a time period that allows for more creative freedom since there are fewer written records. Teasdale's writing style favors gritty realism over shining plate armor and Hollywood-style medieval manners, whether in fantasy or science fiction.
One of the first fantasy novels Teasdale remembers reading is The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper. Cooper's series, which is now classified as Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy, features a blend of modern-day life, hidden history, and magic. Teasdale was influenced by this mix of elements and the fact that Cooper's characters visited places he could actually visit in Cornwall, South East England, and mid-Wales. When Teasdale attended university in Aberystwyth, he chose the location partially because some of Cooper's books were set a few miles north around Tywyn.
Teasdale's writing journey began with roleplaying, and his early work was related to the type of roleplaying games he enjoyed. He wrote "high fantasy" during his Dungeons & Dragons phase and a lot of superhero fiction while playing City of Heroes. Teasdale's favorite authors include Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and Kim Harrison. He has been trying to write a novel based on the idea of a modern world with magic in it for a long time. Teasdale considers practice essential for any form of expression, and he sees his aborted attempts at books and more successful short stories as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series. Currently, Teasdale is a computer programmer working for a telecommunications company in Manchester, England, while continuing to write in his spare time.