Nicola was raised by the seaside in beautiful Brighton. She loves reading, dancing, rhyming and turquoise things. She now lives with her husband and son in East London and spends her days writing and editing children’s books. She has been nominated for the UKLA 2019 award. @NicolaBookFace
Monica Saigal loves telling stories through food, enticing readers on flavourful adventures. With eleven published works, including novels, short stories and cookbooks, she delights in exploring diverse flavours of the world alongside her two sons. When not crafting tales, she’s fearlessly learning to ride a bike.
Natalie graduated from The Open University with an open degree which incorporated creative writing, and was runner up in Writing on the Wall’s ‘Pulp Idol’ 2019 competition. She is a writer, activist, tutor and freelance EDI Consultant for Anthony Walker Foundation as well as the Director of Skywriters, an award winning creative education social enterprise that supports individuals, communities and businesses. Natalie’s interests include reading, activism, travelling, live entertainment, and writing poetry and prose.
When not writing, Maudie spends far too much of her time in expensive shops gawping at clothes and glittery things she can’t afford, and dreaming about owning a pug called Stanley. She’d love to say that she runs marathons – but that would be a lie.
Maxine was born in Liverpool, Merseyside where she still lives with her partner and their two fantastic boys. After gaining an HND in Multimedia Arts and a BA Honours in Digital Arts in 2004, she went on to teach a range of creative subjects before taking a step back to concentrate on her freelance career as an author/illustrator. Unable to let go of college life, she also works part-time as a technician in a brilliant and busy art department in St. Helens. In her spare time, Maxine enjoys doing anything except keeping still.
Dr Melissa Kang is the expert behind the long-running Dolly Doctor column. She’s also a practising medical doctor with marginalised young people in western Sydney and an academic at the University of Technology Sydney.
Melissa was born in Melbourne, Australia and worked as an editor, high school teacher and a Middle Eastern tour guide before becoming an author. Her debut YA novel, Life in Outer Space, was the winner of the 2013 Ampersand Project. Her second YA novel, The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl won the IBBY Australia’s Ena Noel award and was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers. Melissa lives in Melbourne with her cheeky spoodle, Hugo.
Luke graduated with a BA in Illustration from Kingston University, and has made a living telling stories through pictures ever since. Originally working in traditional animation for TV and advertising (Picasso Pictures, MTV) he moved through web animation into interactivity and games, working for ten years as in-house Illustrator and Concept Artist at Playstation’s London Studio. He is currently a full-time Illustrator.
