Melvin Burgess was born in London and brought up in Surrey and Sussex. He has had a variety of jobs before becoming a full-time writer. Before his first novel, he had short stories published and a play broadcast on Radio 4.

He is now regarded as one of the best writers in contemporary children's literature, having won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for his acclaimed novel Junk.

Chris Mould was born in Bradford, England, and has lived and worked there all his life. He began drawing at a very early age and hasn't stopped since. He trained in art college for six years altogether starting in Dewsbury College and moving to Leeds, during which time he gained a joint honours degree in graphic design and illustration.