Narinder Dhami was born in Wolverhampton of an Indian father and English mother. She taught in primary schools for nine years but now writes full-time. Her other books include the novelisation of the film Bend It Like Beckham and the recently published Bindi Babes.

Patrice Lawrence was born in Brighton and brought up in an Italian-Trinidadian household in Mid Sussex.

She found her way to east London in the '90s and lives there with a partner, a teenager and a cat called Stormageddon. She has been writing for as long as she has been reading.

She loves crime fiction, sci-fi and trying to grow things. Her ideal mixtape includes drum 'n' bass, Bruce Springsteen and Studio Ghibli soundtracks.

Music can't help creeping into her books. Orangeboy was shortlisted for the Costa Book Award.

Lucy Mangan is a columnist for Stylist magazine and a features writer and reviewer for The Guardian, The Telegraph and many other publications. She broadcasts frequently on radio and occasionally on television, and is the author My Family and Other Disasters, The Reluctant Bride, Hopscotch and Handbags and Inside Charlie’s Chocolate Factory.