VALERIE BLOOM is the author of poetry collections, picture books and fiction, with her poems included in numerous anthologies. Alongside public and media appearances, Valerie is renowned for her inspiring events in schools throughout the UK and internationally. She was awarded an MBE for services to poetry in 2008, and her solo collection of new…

ROBERT MUCHAMORE’s award-winning debut, CHERUB: The Recruit, was published by Hodder Children’s Books in 2004. His novels have since sold well over 17.5 million copies in more than 40 countries, with translations in 24 languages. A CHERUB screen adaptation is currently in development, and the books continue to win recognition for inspiring a love of…

MEGAN RIX writes historical and contemporary fiction in which animals often play a key role. She is fluent in British sign language, which she incorporates into her popular school and public events. BSL also features in the Lizzie & Lucky series (Puffin) starring a young Deaf detective and her Dalmatian puppy. Megan Rix’s books have…

SUE HEAP has written and illustrated many books over a career spanning three decades, including the Smarties Prize-winning Cowboy Baby (Walker Books). A series of picture books co-written and co-illustrated with Nick Sharratt (Puffin) was the first of several successful creative collaborations. Sue was the illustrator of the award-winning Very Little Red Riding Hood by Teresa…

CAROLINE LAWRENCE’s historical novels for young readers have sold over a million copies in the UK alone, and her Roman Mysteries (Orion) were dramatised by the BBC. She won the Classical Association Prize in 2009, and an Edgar nomination in the USA in 2014. Caroline is a sought-after speaker, maintaining a busy programme of school and literary festival…

MICHAEL CATCHPOOL is the author of ten children’s picture books, with his wise and witty stories brought to life by illustrators including Alison Jay, David Roberts, Vanessa Cabban, Rosalind Beardshaw, Jill Newton and Emma Proctor. SuperJoe Does NOT Do Cuddles was published by Lantana in Autumn 2021, and its sequel SuperJoe Does NOT Say Sorry was…

MARY MURPHY is a Dublin-based author-illustrator of over 40 books for young children. She has garnered a string of starred reviews and accolades in the USA, UK and Ireland for her work, which has also been adapted for TV. In Children’s Books Ireland’s 2018 campaign to mark the centenary of women’s suffrage, Mary was one…