Sarah was born in Oakham, Leicestershire the eldest of three girls. Art was always her favourite subject and after winning an art competition at the age of nine, she decided she wanted to become an artist. After completing her degree at Anglia University she went on to do an MA in Brighton. Sarah has a passion for travel and takes her sketchbook wherever she goes. She also teaches art. Lucy Courtenay was born in Northern Ireland, went to school in Dorset and studied history at Bristol. Her chequered career included stints as a tea lady, a press officer, a singer, a porcelain dealer, a TEFL teacher and an editor, before she finally saw sense and started writing children's books. Despite driving a proper car these days, she misses the vintage custard-yellow camper van that used to own her. In her family, she has trouble deciding who is more handsome: her husband or her two sons. She has a cat called Crumble, and has never been much good at sailing pirate ships.