Gillian Perdue is a children's writer and dancing teacher. She previously worked as a primary school teacher for over fifteen years, and has always had a deep love for children's books. Gillian acted as chairperson of the Bisto Book Awards 1999-2000, and she has written resource materials for the use of real books in the classroom.

Gillian's first book, Adam's Starling was written for older readers and won the Eilís Dillon Memorial Award 2002. The Irish Times described Adam's Starling as an impressive debut. Since then she has written three books in the successful O'Brien Panda Series - Conor's Cowboy Suit, Panda No. 23, Conor's Concert, Panda No. 25, and Conor's Canvas, Panda No. 35. The spirited and determined Conor, who loves to do things his way and his way only has proved to be extremely popular with younger readers. Gillian is married with two children, and lives in Dublin.

Nicola Pierce published her first book for children, Spirit of the Titanic, to rave reviews and five printings within its first twelve months. City of Fate, her second book, transported the reader deep into the Russian city of Stalingrad during World War II. The novel was shortlisted for the Warwickshire School Library Service Award, 2014. Nicola went on to bring seventeenth-century Ireland vividly to life in Behind the Walls (2015), a rich emotional novel set in the besieged city of Derry in 1689, followed by Kings of the Boyne (2016), a moving and gritty account capturing the Battle of the Boyne (1690), which was shortlisted for the Library Association of Ireland (LAI) awards. In 2018 Nicola delved in to the true stories of the passengers, crew and the legacy of the fated ship Titanic, in her illustrated book of the same name. To read more about Nicola, go to her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NicolaPierce-Author and on Twitter @NicolaPierce3.

Charlie Pike started his writing career when he lived in Turkey, teaching English to adults and children. When he returned to Ireland he worked as an advertising copywriter and freelance journalist, writing feature articles for Irish newspapers, until an opportunity came along to work for an Internet start-up. In 2003 he formed his own web company, Usable Design. He met his wife, Birgit, in Turkey and they now live in County Wicklow. They have two children. Charlie is a graduate of Trinity College.

A freelance cartoonist currently living and working in London, Luca Pizzari fell in love with the art of the Kubert brothers when he was nine and decided he wanted to make comic books for a living straight away. He’s been drawing ever since. Loves Occult and Pulp themes, '60s-'70s sleazy B-series movies and too many superhero comic books. Hates talking about himself in third person. 

MAUREEN POTTER, one of Ireland’s best-loved stars, and known to many as the Queen of Comedy, died in April 2004, aged 79. She had a lifelong relationship with the Gaiety Theatre, beginning in 1939, and she is best remembered for her comedy in numerous pantomimes, variety shows and the hugely popular summer revue, Gaels of Laughter.

Frances Power is an editor, journalist and writer based in Dublin.

P.R. Prendergast lives in Dublin, where he has worked as a school teacher for twenty-five years. In 2009 his first children’s book The Romanian Builder was published by The O’Brien Press. Dancing in the Dark, published by The O'Brien Press in 2010, was nominated for the 2011 Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award and was awarded the White Raven Label by the International Youth Library at Bologna Book Fair 2011. He has three children of his own.