Jack Ryder was cast in the role of Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders at the age of 16, a character he played for five years. He then moved into theatre, performing in plays by Alan Bennett, Tim Firth and David Hare, before going on to direct Calendar Girls, The Full Monty and the West End production of The Band Musical.

He played Evan Crowhurst in Holby City in 2019, and in January 2020 he is directing a production of Alan Bennet's The History Boys. It is his lifelong ambition to be a children's book author. Jack's Secret Summer is his first book.

Alice McKinley has worked in publishing for most of her career, working with brilliant companies such as Andersen Press, Little Tiger Press and Nobrow. She decided to chase her dreams and become an Author/Illustrator and completed the Children's Picture Book Illustration MA at the Cambridge School of Arts in 2018.

Her first author-illustrated book Nine Lives Newton published with Simon & Schuster UK this year and she is currently enjoying working on fiction and picture books in sunny Brighton. Here she lives with her boyfriend, myriads of books, and oh so many (many) plants! Other clients include Hachette Children's Books, Barrington Stoke and Affirm Press.