Nora Dare (Author) Nora Dare is a children's book author, editor and publisher. Her inspiration comes from long walks in the countryside and the funny things that children say. She lives in London with her husband and two sons. Maria Neradova (Illustrator) Before she became an illustrator, Maria had studied graphic design at Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czechia followed by illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. Inspired by her ventures into forests and mountains, she loves to create quirky and fantastic worlds full of details and textures. For the past two years, her greatest source of inspiration has been everyday life with her toddler son.