Authors and illustrators

Smriti is an internationally bestselling, award-winning children’s author, published in more than 35 languages worldwide. She began her career at the BBC and worked for several years as a writer and editor in children’s publishing and television, before taking up writing full time. She lives in London with her husband and three sons, reading, writing and eating sticky buns.

Soofiya’s design practice centres around illustration, visual identity and book design, with most clients tending to be in the arts, cultural and activist sector. Soofiya’s art practice and writings aim to articulate a commentary on gender, race, politics and bodies through a DIY and therapeutically informed approach.

Soofiya has worked as a lecturer in design and arts at Universities and HE institutions nationally and internationally in the UK and Xiamen, China. Soofiya is currently an associate lecture at UAL on their MA Internet Equalities course as well as a sessional lecturer at Ravensbourne and Brighton University.

Shanda is a teacher and a mom. She has been reading to kids forever, it seems. Now that her daughters are in college, will she graduate to novels? Probably not. Shanda also likes to make things with yarn, beads and fabric – especially thrift store finds. She lives in Michigan, USA. She dreams of a sunny beach cottage, with as many cats as her husband will allow.

Sheridan Cain was born in London where she also went to school. She now lives in the east of England. She is an avid gardener and the many small creatures who visit her garden are an inspiration for her children’s books.

After graduating with a degree in English and Psychology, Sheryl Webster worked as a primary school teacher, before taking a career break to raise her young family. This gave her the opportunity to pursue her passion for writing. Sheryl lives in Liverpool with her family.

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.

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.