Julie Hunt loves poetry, storytelling and traditional folktales. Her debut novel Song for a Scarlet Runner won the inaugural Readings Children's Book Prize and her graphic novel KidGlovz (illustrated by Dale Newman) won the 2016 Queensland Premier's Literary Award. She also writes books for younger readers.

Her picture book, The Coat (illustrated by Ron Brooks), won the 2013 CBCA Picture Book of the Year. She lives on a farm in southern Tasmania and works in a library.

Dale Newman creates images full of mystery, high drama and subtle humour, so her collaboration with Julie Hunt on KidGlovz and Shoestring, the Boy Who Walks on Air has been a natural fit. She has a background in lithography and etching, which brings a love of rendering light and tone to her pencil illustrations. Her distinctive work has appeared on gallery walls, newspapers, magazines and educational books for children.

She has also worked extensively as an artist in the youth health sector, and uses these skills in workshops she runs with Julie in schools around Australia. Dale lives with her partner and son and their talkative dog on the NSW south coast. In her spare time she can be found rescuing dilapidated retro chairs from the jaws of the council crunchy truck.