Gina Newton is a multi-award-winning children's book author and passionate about the conservation of Australia's wildlife. She trained as a marine biologist, zoologist, and science communicator. Her first picture book (fiction) has sold over 150,000 copies and her first information book for children won the CBCA Eve Pownall award, with her second short-listed. A graduate of Master Classes with renowned authors Fiona McIntosh and the late, great Bryce Courtney, Gina lives in Canberra with her two young adult children and many pets.
A keen reader from an early age, Nandina Vines, wrote, illustrated and constructed her first picture book at the age of 8 years old. Her creative flare led her to work as a colorist with the Hannah Barbera Production Company and later, a career in graphic design. In recent years, Nandina changed her career direction to follow her lifelong dream of becoming an illustrator of children's picture books and has illustrated over ten different picture books for self-published authors. Nandina is not afraid of spiders and uses the catch-and-release method if a spider happens to stray indoors!