David Pickering is an experienced reference books compiler who has contributed to (and often been sole author and editor of) some 150 reference books, mostly in the areas of the arts, language, local history and popular interest. These include an Encyclopedia of Pantomime (1993), a Soccer Companion (1994; 1997), a Dictionary of Superstitions (1995) a Dictionary of Witchcraft (1996) and a Dictionary of Proverbs (2001;2003). He is also the author of Perfect Pub Quiz. He lives in Buckingham with his wife and two sons.