Dr. John Townsend is a psychologist, popular speaker, and cohost of the nationally broadcast New Life Live! radio program, and a cofounder of Cloud-Townsend clinic and Cloud-Townsend Resources.

He has written or co-written 27 books, selling over six million copies, including the bestseller Boundaries. He is also the author of Boundaries with Teens and Hiding from Love.

He and his wife, Barbi, live in southern California. They have two grown sons.

Born and raised in Sheffield, James studied illustration at Wolverhampton University after a childhood spent sketching and painting. He went on to have a long career as an in-house illustrator for several greeting card publishers, including Hallmark cards, before becoming an illustrator of children's books.