Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London.

Rachel Ward grew up in Surrey, England. She studied geography at Durham University and went on to work for several local environmental organizations while raising a family. Her debut novel, Numbers, was shortlisted for Britain's prestigious Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2009, and has been critically reviewed in the United States, receiving a star from School Library Journal who said “Ward’s debut novel is gritty, bold, and utterly unique.”

Rachel's advice for aspiring authors? "Write what you want to. Don't worry too much at first who you are writing for, or who might read it. Try to enjoy writing for its own sake and don't get hung up on becoming published."

Rachel is currently working on THE CHAOS, her sequel to Numbers, which is scheduled for publication in Spring 2011.