Charles de Ledesma has been an author with Rough Guides since 1994; on the travel guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and on the travel guide to South East Asia. He has also contributed to the Rough Guide to World Music focusing on Caribbean zouk and calypso music Charles has travelled extensively since leaving school in 1974 and has written on music since 1982, specialising in world music beats, and latterly, dance music. Further involvements include radio journalism, both in the news field and generating music features, for the BBC and the US agency, the Associated Press.

Since 2003 Charles has taught broadcast journalism and popular music studies taught part time at the University of East London, and, in October 2006, started a PhD in psy trance music and culture there. Reflecting a growing trend, Charles has returned to education not just to gain more job-related skills but to meet a mid –life personal challenge.

Among Charles’ other interests are visiting ancient sites, weekends away in Glastonbury, Somerset, where he's been told his ‘heart chakra’ resides (!), cooking, and consuming, vegetarian food, and guzzling real ale and fine wines in the world’s pubs, bars, cafes and at outdoor festivals.

Charles hopes to see the Altai Mountains in Siberia,the Altiplano in South America and Antarctica in years to come and write books on the afore-mentioned psy trance phenomenon.