Thomas Lawrence Bennett, educator, theatre producer and writer, was born and raised in a picturesque city on the banks of the Grand River---Galt, Ontario, Canada (now Cambridge). Following high school, he trained at Hamilton Teachers’ College after which he began a 45 year teaching career. Further studies included Laurentian University (B.A.) and Michigan State University (M.A. and PhD).

While producing live summer theatre shows, he was the Artistic Producer/Director at Parry Sound’s Rainbow Theatre and the Port Carling Dinner Theatre for a total of 18 summers. At the same time, Thom was also at work writing plays. Over the years he has had five plays published, including his most performed work Dark Rituals, the thrillers Club Dead and The Curse of Shadow Island. Other theatre publications include a family fantasy, Return to Wonderland and with Elizabeth Ferns, he co-authored a new production of the romantic swashbuckler The Prisoner of Zenda.

In retirement from education and the theatre, Thom has turned to writing books. As a novelist, he is the author of the Cass Gentry thriller The Death Merchants and its sequel The Man With Hemingway’s Face. Further, he has penned several collections of short stories, including The Christmas House – 12 Tales of Christmas Magic and 13 Tales from the Dark, an eclectic collection of supernatural stories with illustrations by four international artists. His most recent publications include Promises, and other tales of White Lies and   Dark Porch Mysteries---which is comprised of three novellas and a Cass Gentry short story. Thom is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and the Playwrights Guild of Canada. He has a PhD in Educational Systems Development and is a recipient of the Canada 125 Award.

Thom was married to the late Patricia Anne Brooks, of Burlington, Ontario, for 52 years and his finest work, he maintains, was sharing the parenting of their two wonderful children, Kate and Drew.