Jan-Andrew Henderson


Jan-Andrew Henderson is a Scottish author of children’s, teen, young adult and adult fiction and non-fiction. He has published 40 books in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe. He also writes under the pseudonym J A Henderson.
He has received the Doncaster Book Prize, the Aurealis Award, and the Royal Mail Award.

Early life and education

Henderson completed journalism studies at Napier University, then gained an MA Honours degree in English Literature and Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.

Professional career

Henderson’s career has close ties to the history of Edinburgh and its supernatural aspects. His debut book The Town Below The Ground was the first written about Edinburgh’s forgotten ‘Underground City’ and helped popularise it as a major historical attraction.
His other book include The Ghost That Haunted Itself made the Mackenzie Poltergeist in Greyfriars Graveyard famous. Further works, City of the Dead and Father Figure played a significant role in shaping Edinburgh’s supernatural reputation.
In 1999, Henderson founded Black Hart Entertainment and City of the Dead Tours – a ghost walk company exploring both the underground city and the Mackenzie Poltergeist.
He is a member of the Institute of Professional Editors, in 2017, he founded Green Light Literary Consultants. Other roles include an industry assessor and mentor for the Queensland Writers Centre, a peer assessor for the Australian Government, a mentor for the Horror Writers Association, secretary for the Romance Writers of Australia, an ambassador for Australia Reads, convenor for the Aurealis Award and a judge.

Awards and recognition

Henderson’s novels have been shortlisted for sixteen literary awards and he is the winner of the Doncaster Book Award and the Royal Mail Award, Britain’s biggest children’s book prize at the time. He was also part of the Aurealis Award-winning anthology Relics Wrecks and Ruins, alongside renowned writers such as Neil Gaiman and Robert Silverberg.

Non-fiction works

  • The Town Below The Ground
  • The Emperor’s New Kilt
  • The Ghost That Haunted Itself
  • Who Wants to be an Edinburger?
  • The Wee Book of Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh: City of the Dead
  • Black Markers
  • The Royal Mile
  • Edinburgh New Town
  • Edinburgh's Underground City
  • Edinburgh’s Literary Heritage and How It Changed the World
  • My Royal Mile Adventure
  • Going Underground
  • ‘That is SO Wrong!’ ‘That is TOO Wrong and ‘That is ALL Wrong’ short story trilogy. Editor and main contributor
  • Let’s Write a Page Turner!
  • Aftonhouse

    Fiction works

  • Secret City
  • Colony
  • Storm Chasers
  • Swing
  • The Beasts of Blackwater
  • The 9th Battalion
  • The Fear Machine
  • Time Trip
  • Time Runs Out
  • Henry V
  • It’s Only The End of the World
  • Waiting For A Train That Never Comes
  • Hide
  • Goners
  • Burnt Out
  • Bunker 10
  • Hunting Charlie Wilson
  • I Don’t Really Get Jan-Andrew Henderson
  • Carnage
  • A Town Called Library
  • Father Figure
  • The Knight With 1,000 Eyes
  • Galhadria
  • The Armageddon Twins
  • ''Aftonhouse''

    Personal life

Henderson was born Andrew Henderson in Dundee, Scotland in 1962. He grew up in Kirriemuir before moving to Edinburgh and, in 2017, he relocated to Australia. Henderson is the father of three children, Charlie, Harper and Scarlet.