Author

David Almond

David Almond (Author)

David Almond is the author of Skellig, My Name is Mina, Island, Bone Music and many other novels, stories, picture books, opera librettos, songs and plays. His work is translated into 40 languages, and is widely adapted for stage and screen. His major awards include the Carnegie Medal, two Whitbread Awards, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, the Michael L Printz Award (USA), Le Prix Sorcieres (France), the Nonino International Prize, the James Kruss Prize and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. He has also won the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the world's most prestigious prize for children's authors. In 2021, David was awarded an OBE for services to literature.

David speaks at festivals and conferences around the world. He is Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. He is widely regarded as one of the most exciting, inspirational and innovative children's authors writing today. He has one amazing daughter. He lives in Newcastle, the city in which he was born.

www.davidalmond.com

Stephen Lambert (Illustrator)

Stephen grew up in Reigate, Surrey and has lived in London, North Yorkshire and currently resides on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. After attending Reigate College of Art and Lincoln College of Art, Stephen eventually found himself illustrating for a living.

For Orchard, Stephen has illustrated The Orchard book of Egyptian Gods and Pharaohs, written by Robert Swindells (July 2003). This is a collection of spellbinding stories from Egyptian mythology and Stephen's stunning illustrations vividly bring to life the drama of this era.

"A magical title which blends a tremendously strong storyline with the soft tonalities and dreamlike intensity of Stephen Lambert's dramatic artwork." The Bookseller

"Stephen Lambert's illustrations capture very well both the colours of the desert landscape and the slightly ponderous mystery that hovers over the tales." Times Education Supplement

Stephen's other books include Nobody Rides the Unicorn (Transworld) which has been shortlisted for the Smarties Award, The Train Ride (Walker Books) and The Secret in the Mist (Gullane).

When Stephen is not accompanying his dog on walks along the Cornish coastal paths, he is learning to cultivate his garden.