Em Lynas is an ex-primary school teacher and author of the Action Words Reading Scheme. She writes funny fiction and poetry because she loves to hear children laugh and also because that's the way her mind works. It doesn't do 'serious'.

Em gathers inspiration from memories of the children she taught and the two she brought up, as well as channeling her own childhood experiences. She would like to thank the UK Education Department for giving her so many ideas for Toadspit Towers.

Matt Hunt was born in Redditch, Worcestershire in 1988. Starting out as a fine artist, he graduated from the Birmingham school of art, and from these roots, developed a love for children's illustration.

He currently shares a house with his wife Hayley and two cats. Matt works in mixed media, utilising paint, pens, crayons, and digital.

He loves to create new and interesting characters and write stories for them. He's influenced by old movies, classic illustration, cartoons and books.