English-born Anthony Eglin, former owner and partner of two award-winning San Francisco advertising agencies, is also author of six mystery novels, including The Blue Rose, winner the prestigious Prix Arséne Lupin award for France's best mystery novel of 2006. His most recent work, The Alcatraz Rose, was an International Book Awards first-place winner. With his Larkspur Company partnership, he wrote and directed seven acclaimed, award-winning documentaries for the National Trust and British Tourist Authority featuring British gardens and, later, another first-place winner, Growing Good Roses. An accomplished gardener, he also won Garden Design magazine's Gold Trowel Award for best U.S. Rose Garden. At home, you'll most likely find him in his wine-country garden. If not, in the kitchen with his talented wife, Suzie, along with tabby cat, Feral Frankie. Like his protagonist, Lawrence Kingston, he's addicted to the London Times cryptic crosswords, once in a while finishing it without cheating—or so he claims.