A.J. Hartley is an international bestselling, award-winning author of 28 novels, including the YA fantasy series Hideki Smith, Demon Queller. He collaborates with Tom DeLonge on the Sekret Machines sci-fi series, including Time Rider. Other works include Burning Shakespeare and Cold Bath Street. A former professor of Shakespeare at UNC Charlotte, he also hosts YouTube channels on writing and Japanese rock culture.