Tessa Duder is one of New Zealand's most celebrated children's authors, and has written more than 40 books in genres from junior fiction to adult history. Among her best-known works are the Alex quartet and her biography of Margaret Mahy. A keen sailor and advocate for children's writing, she lives in Auckland.
Bruce Potter is an international award-winning illustrator of more than 125 books. Bruce is known for his realistic style and fine detail but he also has a background in cartooning and caricature for a number of newspapers around the world.
He has worked for many years as an art teacher in adult education and as a fine artist. He has also played leading roles in musicals such as Les Misérables, Chess and Jesus Christ Superstar, most notably in Les Miserables where he has played the role of Valjean three times doing 56 performances. Bruce tours schools around New Zealand doing his one-man show which encourages children to foster and develop their own imaginations through the art of doodling.