About the Author

Frances Watts was born in Switzerland and grew up in Australia. Her bestselling picture books include Goodnight Mice! (illustrated by Judy Watson), the winner of the 2012 Prime Minister's Award for Children's Fiction; 2006 CBC Honour Book Kisses for Daddy (ill. David Legge); and 2008 Children's Book Council of Australia award-winner Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books (ill. David Legge). The Raven's Wing, set in Ancient Rome, and The Peony Lantern, set in nineteenth-century Japan, are her first middle grade/YA novels. www.franceswatts.com Judy Watson is a Melbourne based illustrator, working part time from her home studio. Judy was very excited to see her first picture book, Goodnight Mice! in print, and even more excited when it won the Prime Minister's Literary Award (Children's Fiction) in 2012. Goodnight, Mice! teamed her up with Frances Watts, author of the Extraordinary Ernie & Marvellous Maud series. Jittery Judy had a great time working with Fearless Frances on this series, and became very fond of the characters, not to mention the idea of cavorting about in tights, hoods and occasionally, false moustaches. Extraordinary Ernie and Marvellous Maud was named a Notable Book in the Younger Readers category of the 2009 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, but more importantly still, has inspired children to dress up as sheep in capes! Judy has illustrated 20 children's books, many of them chapter books for young readers, including some Aussie Nibbles and Aussie Bites for Penguin Books and has drawn new covers for the ten books in Emily Rodda's Fairy Realm series ' a task that she enjoyed greatly, being a lover of book jacket design. (Judy is guilty of perpetually judging books by their covers. But happily, she has found some rippers with covers that leave her absolutely cold, so at least she is aware of the error of her ways') You can find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/judywatsonart