Lynne Reid Banks believes in the value of imagination. She says that children's books are more important than those for adults "because for society's sake our children must be able to imagine the consequences of their actions. They must be able to empathize with the situations of others. A healthy imagination is a powerful tool."

This philosophy underpins much of Banks' fiction for children. She is a best-selling author for children, teenagers and adults. Her classic children's novel "The Indian in the Cupboard," which became the first in a series, began as bedtime stories for her own sons. The novel has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, and was made into a feature film.

Born in London in 1929, Banks was the only child of a Scottish doctor father and an Irish actress mother. From childhood the little girl liked writing, "shaping truth to make a better story," she said. She decided, though, that she would follow her mother and become an actress.