Shane Hegarty (Author)
Shane Hegarty has been shortlisted for an abundance of awards. His younger, middle grade title Boot was shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Book Award, nominated for An Post Irish Book Awards and chosen as UNESCO Dublin City Of Literature Citywide Read. Darkmouth was nominated for the Waterstones Prize, An Post Irish Book Awards and the Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards. Before becoming a full-time writer, Shane Hegarty was a journalist and editor of The Irish Times and worked in radio and the music business. Shane lives in Skerries, County Dublin.

Ben Mantle (Illustrator)
Ben Mantle is the illustrator of Shane Hegarty's Boot, shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award. His picture book The Best Birthday Present Ever won the Dundee Picture Book Award and he has illustrated a number of iconic fiction covers such as Piers Torday's The Lost Magician and Jenny McLachlan's The Land of Roar. Ben studied Animation at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design before working as an animator. Since 2008, Ben has been working as a children's book illustrator and also produces screen prints and digital artwork to exhibit. Ben lives in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.