Ever since she learnt to hold a pen, Laura Sieveking has loved creating stories. She remembers hiding in her room as a six-year-old, writing a series of books about an unlikely friendship between a princess and a bear.

As an adult, Laura has spent the vast majority of her career working in publishing as an editor. After several years, she decided to put down her red pen and open up her laptop to create a series of her own.

The Academy series is a combination of all Laura's favourite things writing, friendship and sport, and take her back to her happy childhood memories of gymnastics training and competition.

Laura lives in Sydney with her husband and two children.

Alyssa is a born and bred New Yorker living in Tasmania. She studied illustration and animation at the Fashion Institute of Technology for undergraduate and graduate courses. As an illustrator and art teacher for students aged 5-75+, Alyssa strives to put the KA-POW into stories and learning.

Her illustrations can be found in magazines and books including the Lucia The Luchadora series and fabulous Amelia Chamelia series. Alyssa currently resides in stunning Hobart where adventures await each day.