Na'ima B Robert, born Thando Nomhle McLaren, is descended from Scottish Highlanders on her father's side and the Zulu people on her mother's side.
She was brought up in Harare, Zimbabwe and studied at Girls' High School Harare before going on to university in London. At school her loves included the performing arts, public speaking and writing stories that shocked her teachers.

After school, she left Zimbabwe to study at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, where she obtained a First Class degree.

She was bit by the writing bug in 2000, when she began writing multicultural children's books, including the popular 'The Swirling Hijaab' and the award-winning 'Journey through Islamic Art'. Her autobiographical account of becoming Muslim, 'From my sisters' lips' was published in 2005 by Transworld Publishers.

Her debut novel for teens, From Somalia with Love was warmly received by reviewers, as was her picture book Ramadan Moon, with Shirin Adl. A second teen novel, Boy vs. Girl, was published in 2010. Far from Home is her third novel and is written for both older teens and adults.

Na'ima has four children and divides her time between London and Cairo. She loves meeting new people, reading, cooking for guests and riding horses.

To find out more about Na'ima, visit www.naimabrobert.co.uk