Spanish novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafron was born in Barcelona on September 25, 1964. He now resides in Los Angeles where he writes scripts and novels.

Zafron's debut novel, El príncipe de la niebla (1993, The Prince of Mist), wond the Edebe literary prize for young adult ficiton. Following this, Zafron published three more young adult novels: El palacio de la medianoche (1994), Las luces de septiembre (1995), and Marina (1999). In 2001, the novel La sombra del viento (The Shadow of the Wind) was published, achieving international popularity. In 2008, El juego del angel (The Angel's Game) was published, which is part of a four-book series that also includes The Shadow of the Wind.

Zafron's books have been translated into over 35 languages and have sold over 15 million copies around the world altogether.