On a summer's day, June 17, 1949, in the vibrant borough of Solihull, England, Celia Rees was welcomed into the world by her parents, Wilfred and Lilla Taylor. Her academic journey led her through the corridors of Warwick University, where she cultivated her knowledge in history and politics. Continuing her educational pursuit, she acquired a teaching certificate at West Midlands College and later, a master's degree in education from Birmingham University. Amidst her scholarly endeavors, Celia tied the knot with Terence Rees, a university lecturer, in 1972. Together, they raised a daughter named Catrin and nestled their lives in the charming town of Leamington Spa, England.

Embarking on a career in education, Rees initially engaged young minds with the tales of history before finding her passion in English literature. This pivotal shift sparked the beginning of her literary craft. She observed her students' fascination with American young adult authors such as Judy Blume, Robert Cormier, and Lois Duncan. "My students really enjoyed these," she reflected, "but there didn't seem to be many books with kids like them, British kids, at the centre of the story. At about the same time someone recounted an incident which fitted the brief exactly, and I thought I'd try and turn it into a novel." Thus, in 1993, her debut novel, Every Step You Take, was released in England, marking the dawn of her career as an acclaimed author in the realm of young adult horror fiction.

The seeds of inspiration for Witch Child were planted during Rees's collegiate studies in American history. Captivated by the trials and tribulations of early Colonial life, she stumbled upon the notorious witch hunter Matthew Hopkins, which ignited the conception of a gripping tale about a girl's perilous journey from her home, only to face accusations of witchcraft in the New World. "Once I have an idea for a story it bugs me until I write it. If it doesn't (bug me, that is), it won't be worth pursuing," Rees confessed about her creative process. The concepts behind Witch Child lingered in her thoughts long before she finally committed them to paper, manifesting into the novel that would captivate audiences worldwide.