Trenton Lee Stewart was born in 1970. He graduated from the Iowa Writer's Workshop and wrote the adult novel "Flood Summer" in 2005. He has since become a children's novelist with the three part series - "The Mysterious Benedict Society" - which includes "The Perilous Journey" and "The Prisoner's Dilemma." He also teaches creative writing.
Carson Ellis was born in Vancouver, Canada on October 5, 1975. She received a BFA in painting from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1998. She has illustrated several children's books including The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, and The Wildwood Chronicles series by her husband Colin Meloy. She received a 2010 Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators for her art in Dillweed's Revenge by Florence Parry Heide. She also creates album art, t-shirts, websites, posters, and stage sets for the rock band The Decemberists.