About The Author - Derek Wheeler

Background

Born in April 1942, he has been happily married for 60 years to his childhood sweetheart, whom he met at school. Together they have three sons, including a pair of identical twins. Now living in Surrey, he draws on his technical background to craft engaging science fiction stories and taps into his deep cosmetic knowledge for his latest book, P I C O. He also enjoys writing light-hearted doggerel poetry and imaginative children’s stories, which are yet to be published.

A pioneering chemist and physiologist, he is the author or co-author of 15 patents and the founder or co-founder of four innovative companies in the fields of cosmetics and drug delivery. His inventions have been adopted by leading global brands such as Estée Lauder, Reckitt Benckiser, and Marks & Spencer. Among his notable achievements is a patented pharmaceutical cream for treating psoriasis, now approved and used by nearly one million people worldwide to alleviate its symptoms.

As an international technical consultant, he has lectured on cosmetic science across the globe — including in the USA, Thailand, South Africa, and Australia — and was a principal contributor to a major textbook in the field.

His interest in artificial intelligence has led him to write and lecture on the subject, insights from which feature prominently in his sci-fi novel VICTA.

Beyond science and writing, he has managed several rock and R&B bands, even taking them on international tours.

A meticulous researcher, he believes: “You can only make things easy to understand and amusing if you know far more than you actually use.” This philosophy underpins the detailed groundwork behind each of his books.

His favourite author is John le Carré, and his favourite holiday destination is Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.