Robin McKinley was born in Warren, Ohio on November 16, 1952. She graduated from Bowdoin College in 1975 and her first novel, Beauty, was published in 1978. She has received numerous awards for her work including the Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown; a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword; the Mythopoeic Award for Adult Literature for Sunshine; and the World Fantasy Award for Imaginary Lands. Her other works include Spindle's End; The Outlaws of Sherwood; Rose Daughter; A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories; and Chalice.
<p <strong Melanie Jackson</strong , who lives in Vancouver with her family, is a business/advertising writer and editor, book reviewer for the <em Vancouver Sun</em , and a member of the <em Sun</em 's Book Club. Melanie volunteers as a writing mentor with the Vancouver School Board. Melanie welcomes opportunities for author visits to schools. For more information, <a href="http://www.flavors.me/melaniejackson/" visit her website.</a </pMike Deas is the illustrator of the bestselling Graphic Guide Adventure series. His love for illustrative storytelling developed at an early age while growing up on Saltspring Island, British Columbia. Capilano College's… Commercial Animation Program in Vancouver helped Mike fine-tune his drawing skills and imagination. Mike enjoys traveling, and he has worked in England and California as a concept artist, texture artist and art director in the video game industry. Mike and his wife Nancy live in sunny Victoria, British Columbia.