Ben Atkins completed the first draft of his first novel aged only seventeen, and yet writes with the maturity of a forty year old. He is a student of Political Studies and Film and Media Studies at Auckland University. He has a deep interest in how politics permeates and defines society. This tied in with his passion for mid-20th century crime fiction, resulting in Drowning City: 'When I was in high school, the ethical and ideological concerns of the Great Depression struck me as a fascinating complement to those of organized crime. The process of writing this book developed alongside a student's struggle to comprehend the illusions that constitute society.' Ben intends to continue writing fiction alongside his growing interest in film and screenwriting.