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CONTRIBUTORS

Bernard Ashley is a British author known for his children’s and young adult fiction. He was born in Woolwich in 1935 and following his National Service in the RAF, began his career as a teacher. After thirty years as a headteacher Bernard turned his hand to writing, and his first novel, The Trouble with Donovan Croft (1974), won the ‘Other’ Award (an alternative to the Carnegie Medal). Since then Bernard has gone on to write over 30 books, many of which focus on contemporary social issues and ‘gritty’ urban life. Notable titles include A Kind of Wild Justice (1978), Running Scared (1986), Little Soldier (1999), Shadow of the Zeppelin (2014) and Johnnie's Blitz (1995), which drew on his wartime experiences as a child in and around London. Ashley’s work has received several accolades: Justin and the Demon Drop Kick was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize in 1994; Little Soldier was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 1999 and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize; and in 2012, he received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the UK Literacy Association. His most recent works include Dead End Kids (2019) and Off Side (2021). Bernard has also written for the stage, and for television, including adaptations of his own books Break in the Sun, Running Scared, The Country Boy and Dodgem as BBC television series in their own right. Bernard enjoys nights at the theatre and watching Tottenham Hotspur matches on TV, especially when they’re shared with his sons, his grandchildren and his wife Iris, whom he says is a bit of a pundit. He lives in Charlton, southeast London, only a street or so from where he was born.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce is a multi award-winning children’s book author and screenwriter, and Waterstones Children's Laureate 2024–26. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal. His other books include Cosmic, Framed, The Astounding Broccoli Boy, Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth, Runaway Robot, Noah’s Gold, The Wonder, The Blockbusters! and Brothers. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children’s Fiction Award, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award. Frank is also a highly successful screenwriter. He has written for the hit TV series Dr Who and his script for Michael Morpurgo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom won a British Animation Award. Along with Danny Boyle, he devised the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics. Frank has been the judge for the 500 Words competition and the BBC's One Show As You Write It competition. Frank is a lifelong champion of children’s books, and his podcast with co-host Nadia Shireen, The Island of Brilliant!, celebrates writing and illustration for children of all ages. He lives in Merseyside with his family.

Margo McDaid, also known as Margo in Margate, is an Irish artist renowned for her relentless creativity and vibrant works. Since February 2014, she has dedicated herself to painting daily in her Kent studio, producing an impressive collection of artworks, with each piece reflecting a single unique day in her artistic journey. Margo’s unique style and compelling female portraiture has garnered a devoted online following. Her works are characterised by a vintage charm and the vivid colours inspired by Margate’s youth culture. She studied applied art at Camberwell College of Arts, before moving to Manhattan, where she engaged with the New York pop art scene while working as a waitress, and then relocating to England where she worked as a community artist and art teacher before settling on the Kent coast in 2010. By 2014, Margo had embraced her calling as a full-time artist, committing to her practice of daily painting. Her work spans various mediums, including canvas, paper, ceramic, wood and now book covers too.