Bradley, John William

Born in Toronto in 1938, Alan Bradley grew up in Cobourg, Ontario, raised by his mother. He developed a love for reading early on, often spending time alone. Before his writing career, Bradley worked as a radio and television engineer, notably for the University of Saskatchewan, where he helped establish a broadcasting studio and served as Director of Television Engineering for a quarter-century. He retired from the university in 1994 to pursue writing full-time.

Bradley's writing journey included short stories for radio and magazines. After moving to Kelowna, British Columbia, he focused on screenplays for nine years. A significant experience during the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire shifted his focus towards memoirs, leading to the publication of "Ms Holmes of Baker Street" and "The Shoebox Bible". His breakthrough came when his wife encouraged him to enter a crime-writing competition. His submission, based on a minor character named Flavia de Luce, won the Debut Dagger award and led to a multi-book deal, launching his acclaimed mystery series.

Alan Bradley was born in Toronto in 1938 and was raised in the small town of Cobourg by his mother, along with his two older sisters. He learned to read at a young age, partly due to spending considerable time in bed as a child. Despite this, he described himself as a poor student, preferring to read in a local cemetery rather than engage in high school activities. Following his education, Bradley pursued a career in engineering, designing and building electronic systems. He worked in radio and television engineering in Cobourg before a stint at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. In 1969, he moved to Saskatoon and began working at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was instrumental in developing a broadcasting studio and served as Director of Television Engineering for 25 years. He opted for early retirement in 1994 to dedicate himself to writing.

After retiring from the University of Saskatchewan, Bradley and his wife relocated to Kelowna, British Columbia. Initially, he wrote screenplays for nearly a decade. A pivotal moment occurred during the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire, which, despite sparing his home, inspired him to shift his writing focus to memoirs. This period saw the release of "Ms Holmes of Baker Street" and "The Shoebox Bible". Bradley's career took a significant turn when he entered the U.K. Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger competition. Encouraged by his wife to develop a character from a work-in-progress, he submitted pages about a young girl named Flavia de Luce. This submission not only won the competition but also formed the foundation for his highly successful "Flavia de Luce" mystery series, beginning with "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie".

The success of "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" led to international publishing deals and critical acclaim. Bradley, who had never visited England when he wrote the book set there, received the Debut Dagger award in London at the age of 69. The novel was published in 2009 and quickly spawned a popular series featuring the precocious young chemist and sleuth, Flavia de Luce, set in a 1950s English village. The series expanded significantly beyond its initial planned length, with multiple installments published and well-received. In 2023, it was announced that "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" would be adapted into a feature film. Following the sale of their home in 2009, Bradley and his wife have embraced a nomadic lifestyle, traveling and living in various locations worldwide.