About the Author

Aaron Topp writes young adult fiction. He was born in Waipukurau and has worked as a primary school teacher. He currently lives in Hawke's Bay. His first book, Single Fin (Random House, 2006), is a coming of age tale about a boy obsessed with surfing, based on a true story. The work won the Young Adult Fiction Honour Award at the 2007 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and was also listed as a 2007 Storylines Notable Young Adult Fiction Book. Creating Waves: How Surfing Inspires our most Creative New Zealanders (HarperCollins, 2009) is an exploration of the relationship of the role surfing and the sea plays in the creative lives of a selection of leading musicians, painters, sculptors, poets and fellow writers. A reviewer for Boat Books said 'Full of fascinating insights into New Zealand's surfing world, Creating Waves will make you want to pick up the surfboard and head for the beach.'