Maddy Mara is the pen name of Melbourne-based creative duo Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger. Hilary and Meredith have been collaborating on children’s books for nearly two decades.

Hilary is an author and former publishing director; Meredith is the author of countless books for kids and young adults, and teaches English as a foreign language. Maddy Mara is the melding of their respective daughters’ names.

Noémie grew up in a small coastal town of New-Brunswick, Canada, surrounded by the ocean. Growing up, she told everyone she wanted to become either a doctor, or a children’s book illustrator. Midway through med school, she decided she would do both.

She now shares her time between the hospital (where she works as a rheumatologist) and her home studio, where she sketches, draws and paints surrounded by her wife, son, two tiny Chihuahuas and two cats. She works both digitally and traditionally, creating engaging illustrations, usually with a funny twist!