Charles Dickens was born in 1812 near Portsmouth where his father was a clerk in the navy pay office. The family moved to London in 1823, but their fortunes were severely impaired. Dickens was sent to work in a blacking-warehouse when his father was imprisoned for debt. Both experiences deeply affected the future novelist. In 1833 he began contributing stories to newspapers and magazines, and in 1836 started the serial publication of Pickwick Papers. Thereafter, Dickens published his major novels over the course of the next twenty years, from Nicholas Nickleby to Little Dorrit. He also edited the journals Household Words and All the Year Round. Dickens died in June 1870.

Robert Ingpen was born in 1936 in Geelong, Australia. He studied illustration art and book design at The Royal Melbourne Institue of Technology. In 1986 he was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his contribution to children’s literature and he has been honoured with Membership of the Order of Australia.

A world-renowned artist and author, Ingpen has designed, illustrated and written more than one hundred books. His work includes his highly acclaimed series of illustrated children’s classics, a unique achievement by one illustrator, which have now been published in many editions around the world.

Robert now lives and works in Barwon Heads, Australia, near his hometown of Geelong. Further information on Robert Ingpen can be found at www.robertingpen.com

From 2003 – 2013 I was a producing partner of XM/Sirius Satellite Radio providing SonicMovies, my brand of premium audio dramas, to its Book Radio and Playboy's Sexy Stories. I've written, adapted, directed, produced and performed in nearly 300 SonicMovies, been anthologized with John Grisham, Scott Turow, Erle Stanley Gardner and other authors of note in the Mammoth Book of Legal Thrillers, a #1 Bestseller in Australia, appeared in commercials, ads and programs for McDonald’s, Buick, . . . industrial videos; written and directed several short films; been a semi-finalist and finalist in several major screenwriting competition and written numerous short stories, novellas and novels.

Lisa began weaving intricate stories inside her head early, but these days her words find themselves bursting forth in the forms of flash fiction, short stories, and novels.

She's a sensory writer and delves into sensitive subjects that will lift your spirit and steal your heart, and conjures worlds of fantasy and post-apocalypse which will ignite your imagination.

Lisa was born and raised in vibrant Brighton, England, and living by the ocean heavily influenced her lyrical and emotional writing. She works with the senses, description, and colour, and her readers will easily visualise the narrative. She draws inspiration from her family, memory, and imagination. After she had her first of three children she and her family moved to Carmarthen, West Wales, a market town also rich in legend and lore.

She loves family time, walking in forests with their dog, watching waves crash on the beach, photography, crystals, art, and last but not least, writing.

'There’s nothing better than losing yourself inside your imagination...'

You can follow her blog at www.thelastkrystallos.wordpress.com or checkout her website at www.lisashambrook.com

Geoff Mills studied English at Reading and London Universities and was one of the first to graduate from the National Academy of Writing, where he won a Commitment to Writing Award. His work, critical and creative, has appeared in the Guardian (online), Times Higher Educational Supplement, Literary Review, a BBC Birmingham exhibition as well as in a number of anthologies, magazines and periodicals. He is the founding editor of Garreteer Press.

Twitter Version: Dad, Husband, Not President, and Citizen.

And now my Back Cover Version: Arthur Atwood is a political writer and lover of classic literature. Most known for his beloved Classics for Democrats and Republicans series. Atwood brings his whit and charm to every work. He is a devoted follower of "laugh at yourself before others do".

D E McCluskey was born in 1973, in Liverpool, England. He is the author of novels, graphic novels and comics. He lives with his daughter (an author in her own right (at the age of 8) with her children's adventure The Hangry Hamster), his partner, her daughter, and a sausage dog called Ted.

He began writing in 2011, creating his first comic publication entitled Interesting Tymes, an anthology of short horror stories written in rhyme for children and adults. This was quickly followed by the second in the series, along with a spin off. Dave then moved on to more adult related fiction, releasing a number of one-shot comics, followed by his first, full length book, the graphic novel, Doppelgänger.

More graphic novels and comics ensued, including a collaboration with artist Joe Matthews to produce a retelling of the classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol, only this time rewritten completely in rhyme.

Dave then turned his sights onto writing novels. His debut novel The Twelve was released in 2017 to great reviews. This was followed by a collaboration with a local, Liverpool music historian, to produce a historical thriller called In The Mood… For Murder, based in Liverpool in 1946.

Dave likes to work mostly in dark, or mainstream horror, although he has cross genres into extreme horror, comedy, thrillers, romantic drama, and children's books.

He is also working with a number of other authors/comic creators, in collaborations in their works.

Comics:

Interesting Tymes

Interesting Tymes x 2

Edward D'Ammage Presents: The Wedding

Wooden Heart

Three Days in the City

The Adventures of Mace Masoch: Hard Times on Planet L'Bido

Short Sharp Shocks

The Few

Sick B*stards (with Matt Shaw)

Eleven (with Matt Shaw)

Graphic Novels:

Doppelgänger

Olf

A Christmas Carol (with Joe Matthews)

DeathDay Presents

DreamCatcher

Novels:

The Twelve

In The Mood for Murder (with Tony Bolland)

CRACK

Z: A Love Story

The Contract (with C. William Giles)

Butterflies

TimeRipper

Mutant Superhero Zombie Killing Disco Cheerleaders from Outer Space (with Uzis)

Glimmer (book 1 in the Glimmer Saga)

The City of the Fireflies (book 2 in the Glimmer Saga)

The Throne of Glimm (book 3 in the Glimmer Saga)

A Seagull's Tale

Guardian (this is NOT poetry)

The Boyfriend

All Of These People Are Going To Die 3: All Of These Kids Are Going To Die

Sing Sing For Murder

Olf: Santa's Naughtiest Reindeer

Novellas:

CRAVINGS

Zola

The Grinkle Nonk

The Special Stuff

The Stinky Stump