Paul Sloane studied engineering at Cambridge University and works in software marketing. His passion for lateral puzzles started when he met a dwarf standing on a block of ice in an elevator. His first book, Lateral Thinking Puzzlers, was published by Sterling in 1991, and has gone on to become a bestseller. Des MacHale is Associate Professor of Mathematics at University College in Cork. Following a chance meeting between Paul Sloane and Des MacHale in 1991, the two have written many popular books of lateral thinking puzzles, all published by Sterling.