Scottish writer Jack Ronder studied chemistry at Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, and was involved in a number of productions with the Edinburgh University Drama Society and Edinburgh Graduates Theatre Group. He was a chemistry teacher and later a full-time writer. His television work included drama series The Lost Tribe (1980), adapted from his own novel, and eight episodes of the BBC post-apocalyptic drama Survivors (1975-6). He also wrote episodes for TV series including Space:1999, Z Cars, This Man Craig and Dr Finlay’s Casebook. His stage plays include Confessions of a Justified Sinner, based on a novel by James Hogg, and Cocky, about the 19th century Scottish lawyer Lord Cockburn.

Jack Ronder was married to artist and writer Anne Christie, and had three children, Tanya, Julia and David. His daughter Tanya is a stage and screen writer. Jack Ronder died in 1979.