Elizabeth Laird has lived and worked in many countries, including Ethiopia, Malaysia, Iraq and Lebanon.

Elizabeth has written many novels and collections of folktales as well as picture books for younger children.  Some of her novels are set in the UK, and some in Africa and the Middle East. In collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education and the British Council, she has travelled to every region of Ethiopia collecting folktales. These are preserved on two websites, www.ethiopianfolktales.com and www.ethiopianenglishreaders.com

Her latest book, YOUR PLANET NEEDS YOU! BRILLIANT JOBS TO PROTECT YOUR WORLD (Walker) published in 2025, was written in collaboration with her son, Will McDowall. It encourages children to think positively of the jobs they can have when they grow up to combat climate change.

Elizabeth Laird has won many awards and has been shortlisted six times for the Carnegie Medal. Her books have been translated into over 25 languages.

She is a judge of the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.