Piers Torday (Author)
Piers Torday began his career in theatre and then television as a producer and writer. His first book for children, The Last Wild, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Award, nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and is being adapted for the stage by the Unicorn and National Theatre. His second book, The Dark Wild, won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. Other titles include There May Be A Castle (People's Book Award finalist), which was adapted for the stage by the Little Angel Theatre, The Lost Magician (Teach Primary Book Award) and Midnight Treasure, the New Statesman Children's Book of the Year. He recently adapted The Box of Delights for the RSC. Other stage adaptations include Christmas Carol and The Wind in the Willows (Wilton's Music Hall).

Matthew Taylor Wilson (Illustrator)
Born and raised in the United States, Matthew is an illustrator and designer currently living in Kentucky with his brilliant wife, two kids and two neurotic dogs.


With picture books, monster movies and sci-fi novels as a foundation for his creative development, Matthew found himself on a journey from graphic design to a more playful, illustration-centered career. He has spent the better part of two decades drawing monsters and robots, doodling band names, illustrating and hand-lettering quirky book covers, ads, logos and a myriad of other commercial products.