Alan Gibbons has twice been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and has won the Blue Peter Book Award in the 'Book I Couldn't Put Down' category. He is a full-time writer, and a visiting speaker, lecturer and a key contributor at the QCA/National Literary Strategy 'Writing Together' conferences.

Leo Brown is a painter, illustrator, author, art director, sculptor and animator. He created the feature animation Believe - The Quest for Innocence, and published the first in a series of children's illustrated novels, Stargazers - There is Always Someone Watching. As a concept artist, his clients range from the BBC, Disney, Gary Kurtz, producer of the Star Wars films, and Mike Ploog, art director of Ghost Rider.