Nick Sharratt took an Arts Foundation course at Manchester Polytechnic and a BA in Graphic Design at St Martin's. He is well-known for his illustration of the books of Jacqueline Wilson and Jeremy Strong and for his own titles. He has won many awards, including the Children's Book Award in 2001 for Eat Your Peas. Nick lives in Brighton. After graduating from Hull College of Art, Sue Heap worked in animation and as a designer at several children's book publishers - this was how she met her friend Nick Sharratt when she was responsible for his first picture book. Sue has illustrated over thirty children's books, including Cowboy Baby for which she won the prestigious Smarties Prize. She's lived in many places including Egypt, Germany and Singapore, and now lives in Oxfordshire.
Is truth stranger than fiction? Novels based on actual incidents are fascinating and the title of this tale is painfully, exquisitely apt for a book where the repercussions of a World War II incident are described in tandem with coverage of modern day unrest in distant lands. Daphne was a stickler for the rules at work and at home, and had a hand in th fate of Italian emigres. Now, Rachel, the girlfriend of Daphne's beloved, baleful son Oliver, a television journalist, is making a documentary, and mischief in doing so. A highly praised debut in which the slow-moving pace of the telling gives more impact to the final twist. However, it's beautifully written, with a refreshing eye for original imagery. (Kirkus UK)