Will Gallows and the Snake-Bellied Troll is Derek's debut novel for children although, previously, he has published several educational books. He began writing in 2000 as a new millennium resolution and hasn't looked back. Currently, he has a thriving schools program, storytelling and taking creative writing workshops around local schools. He lives in Northern Ireland with his wife, Elaine, who is Canadian, and has twin daughters, Sarah-Jane and Rebekah.