Wolfgang Haufe, born 1951 in Leipzig, German Democratic Republic (then known as East Germany). At the age of 10 months taken by his parents to the Federal Republic of Germany. Until 1957 he grew up in the refugee camp Stammheim near Stuttgart.

Wolfgang studied Visual Communication, Communication Theory and Semiotics in Stuttgart and Wuppertal. In 1980 he migrated to New Zealand and worked there as a freelance copyrighter, except for six months in 1984, when he worked in Los Angeles, California.

On the 20th November 1990 Wolfgang suffered a major stroke (CVA) which he not only barely survived, but he surprised doctors and family alike, when, after four an a half months in hospital, he was released; breathing without a respirator, talking more or less fluently (with a German accent) and walking with the help of a walker. All of which the doctors said he wouldn't be able to.

Today he lives with his wife Jenny, two dogs - Betty and Lucy, and a cat called Sam the Man in Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland and they spend many weekends and holidays in Port Waikato where a major part of this book was written.