From an early age, Kate Thompson wrote and illustrated picture books, and was determined to be a children's author. However, she became a solicitor, which contained disappointingly little sleuthing or storytelling. Happily, following the birth of her sons, Kate rediscovered her passion for picture books and writing. She now lives by the sea and spends her days gleefully immersed in literary adventures of her own making.

Loretta won the Waterstone’s ‘Picture This’ competition in 2012 and has since illustrated numerous picture books including Beauty and the Beast by Michael Morpurgo, A Monster's Moved In by Timothy Knapman and the Sky Private Eye series of picture books by Jane Clarke.

Loretta has also illustrated several young fiction titles including the Dougal Daley series written by Jackie Marchant. She lives in London with her husband and pet hamster, Torben Redbeard.