Simon lives on the south coast of England, although he occasionally leaves to buy milk. After gaining a first-class degree in History at Exeter University, he became a barman, grew tired of the owner calling him Andy, left in order to fail a Primary PGCE, then finally stumbled upon writing (sometimes award-winning) books.
Simon is the award-winning author of the Saxby Smart and Jeremy Brown series. Simon’s ultimate dream is to go the moon, but in the meantime, he lives in Warwick with his wife and children and contents himself with writing in a tiny wardrobe and eating too much chocolate.
Sophia Bennett’s debut novel, THREADS, won The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition in 2009. She has since published six further novels for young teens, including THE LOOK and LOVE SONG. Sophia has been called ‘the queen of teen dreams’ by journalist Amanda Craig, for her exploration of the worlds of fashion, art and music. Her books have sold internationally to over 16 countries and there are plans to make THREADS into a TV series. Sophia lives with her family in Wandsworth, south-west London.
Sophy Williams is an award-winning illustrator who has worked with many prestigious authors, including Philip Pullman, Geraldine McCaughrean and Adèle Geras. Sophy lives in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. Visit sophywilliamsillustrator.com
Stacey McCleary is, was and always will be a children’s author… It has been this way ever since she faked illness during primary school to write stories on her enormous yellow typewriter at home. When Stacey is not writing in her pyjamas, she’s daydreaming about what she will next write in her pyjamas. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her daughter, a dog, two guinea pigs and a goldfish named Rod Stewart.
Simran Diamond Singh is an illustrator and character designer based in East London. She has always adored storytelling and world-building and bringing characters to life, and ventured into the world of children's book illustration after winning the SECRET STORY DRAW in 2021.
