Growing up on a farm, Lee Edward Födi was subjected to various horrible chores such as cleaning up after chickens, pigs, geese, and younger siblings. He continually craved adventure and often found himself searching between the cracks of here and there in hopes of discovering an enchanted world populated with magical monsters, talking animals, and other creatures of faerie.

Several years later, he had the stroke of good fortune to stumble upon the secret Land of Een and now he is most pleased to be the official scribe of The Chronicles of Kendra Kandlestar. Since finishing the series (five installments and a companion book), he has turned his attention to exploring a multi-faceted fantasy world in a new series, The Books of Zoone. Book 1, The Secret of Zoone, is available now from HarperCollins Children's Books.

When he is not writing, “Mr. Wiz” (as he is so often called) spends his time teaching kids how to daydream through his fun-filled creative writing workshops. He has helped thousands of kids in the US, Canada, England, Thailand, and Korea find inspiration.

He enjoys traveling, and especially exploring castles, mazes, tombs, and temples around the world—not to mention tiny places hidden between the cracks of here and there.

He lives in Vancouver with his wife and son.

For a list of upcoming appearances by Lee Edward Födi, or to book him for a school visit or other event, please visit leefodi.com.

Frequently asked questions

1. Who are the Kendra Kandlestar books for?
These books are for both boys and girls—and it seems to me that most of the readers who send me letters are 7-11 years old. But I also know they make great read-alouds for younger kids, too.

2. Where do you get your ideas?
I am inspired by mythology and world folklore. Since I was a small boy, I have always been fascinated by the tales and mysteries of the ancient world. Now, as an adult, one of my greatest joys is to travel to ancient sites around the world. Some of the places I have visited include the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Stonehenge in England, the Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala, the Great Wall of China, Ayutthaya in Thailand, the catacombs in Paris, and of course many other temples, castles, and extravagant examples of architecture around the world. Such visits help connect me to the magic of Een.

3. Will your books ever be made into movies?
I’m a writer and illustrator, so I concentrate on telling these stories through books. However, I do think Kendra’s epic adventures would make a great basis for a movie—but such a movie won’t be made by me personally.

4. How do you come up with the character names?
The Eens have a very “sing-song” quality to their names because they are a magical people, with a close affinity to nature. You will notice that all of their first and last names start with the same sound (this is called alliteration). The names Kendra Kandlestar, Gregor Griffinskitch, and Honest Oki and are just a few examples. I like to think that the name of each character really matches his or her personality.

5. How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. In fact, I wrote my first book when I was five or six years old. Most of my stories that I wrote as a kid were just like the Chronicles of Kendra Kandlestar, filled with talking animals and dragons.

6. Do you visit schools?
Yes, I love to visit schools and tell children about the Land of Een. Just visit leefodi.com to find out more information about asking me to come visit your school or to teach a writing workshop.

7. Where can I buy the Kendra Kandlestar books?
The Chronicles of Kendra Kandlestar are available at most retailers in Canada and the US, or through amazon in both print and electronic editions.

8. Are the Kendra Kandlestar books available as ebooks?
Yes! The Chronicles of Kendra Kandlestar are availble in all electronic platforms through amazon, iTunes, and other distributors of digital books.

9. Do you have study guides for teachers?
Yes, you can download free teacher guides by visiting the books page. If you have any additional questions, send an Een-mail by visiting the connect page.

10. Have the Kendra Kandlestar books won awards?
Happily, yes! The Box of Whispers was nominated for the Chocolate Lily Award. In the past, The Box of Whispers, The Door to Unger, and The Crack in Kazah have won the Mom’s Choice Award®. The Box of Whispers was also recommended in 2007 by the Canadian Toy Testing Council. The Door to Unger, The Shard from Greeve and The Crack in Kazah were put on the "best books for kids" list by the Canadian Children's Book Centre. The Crack in Kazah also won the Reader View's Reviewer's Choice Award in 2012.

11. What are you working on right now?
I'm working on brand new series of books called The Books of Zoone. They are not related to Kendra Kandlestar, but feature many of the same sorts of characters and situations. Book 1, The Secret of Zoone, is out now and two sequels are in the works.. You can get updates about my progress by visiting the Kendra Kandlestar blog or by signing up for the official Lee Edward Fodi newsletter.