Stephanie Dowrick, PhD, D.Min, is Australia’s most original and successful personal development writer. Formerly a publisher, co-founder and first Managing Director of the influential London publishing house, The Women’s Press, Reverend Dr Dowrick has supported thousands of people as a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, retreat leader, public speaker, writing mentor and author.

Her much-loved international bestsellers include Choosing Happiness: Life & soul essentials, Forgiveness and Other Acts of Love, The Universal Heart, Everyday Kindness, In the Company of Rilke, Heaven on Earth and Seeking the Sacred. Her continuing contributions to media and social media include a decade as ‘Inner Life’ columnist for Good Weekend magazine and, earlier, as a regular contributor to ABC Radio National’s Life Matters. For many years, Stephanie had a small private psychotherapy and supervision practice, alongside her research, writing and media work. Since 2000, she has led spiritual retreats at Mana Retreat Centre in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, and since 2006, along with Professor Kim Cunio, she has led the large diverse congregation of ‘Interfaith in Sydney’.

She has twice been awarded Nautilus awards (‘Better books for a better world’): in 2009 the Nautilus Silver Award in the Psychology category for Choosing Happiness: Life & soul essentials; in 2014 the Nautilus Grand/ Gold Award for Heaven on Earth in the Religion/Spirituality category. In 2010, she won a COVR (Coalition of Visionary Resources) Award for Creative Journal Writing, which remains one of her bestselling titles in the United States. Her books have been translated into languages as diverse as Arabic and Russian. Stephanie Dowrick was born in Aotearoa/New Zealand, lived in Europe for many years, and currently makes her home in Sydney, Australia.

Anne Spudvilas is a multi-award-winning illustrator of children's books and an established portrait painter and printmaker. Her first picture book, The Race by Christobel Mattingley, was awarded the Crichton Award for Illustration and was a CBCA Honour Book.

Her bestselling books include The Peasant Prince by Li Cunxin, which won the NSW and Queensland Premiers' Awards in 2008 and Jenny Angel by Margaret Wild which was CBCA Picture Book of the Year in 2000.

Anne's move to the Murray River has inspired her latest book, an illustrated retelling of the classic ballet story Swan Lake. She lives in Wentworth, where the Murray and Darling rivers meet, surrounded by birds and river red gums.