<p Helen Flook was born and grew up in the beautiful countryside of Wales. She always loved to draw, but never imagined that one day she would be drawing for a living - what a great job! Art was always her favourite subject at school. She went on to do an Art Foundation Course and then a Degree in Graphic Design at Norwich School of Art and absolutely loved it!<br <br Over the next few years, Helen worked as an excavator and illustrator on a number of archaeological digs in Britain, France and Germany. She also worked for The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds - another great job, satisfying her interest in nature and wildlife.<br <br In 1995, she moved with her… husband and son to Canada. They lived in Guelph, Ontario for ten years learning all about hockey, real winters and what it was like to live somewhere completely different. She was published in a number of national newspapers and magazines in Canada, but eventually returned to her greatest love--children's books. She has been fortunate enough to be asked to illustrate books by some tremendous children's authors, both in North America and Britain.<br <br In 2005, Helen and her family returned to Wales and she now lives and works from a beautiful village called Abergwyngregyn. Most of her work is produced using acrylic inks, which have lovely bright strong colours. Though she does occasionally try out watercolours and coloured pencils, pen and ink drawing is her favourite.<br <br Ten Things You didn't know about Helen Flook~<br <br 1 - I love Tin Tin and Asterix books and collect old Rupert Bear annuals.<br 2 - I cannot exist without tea (preferably Ceylon)<br 3 - I was once a frog in a school play<br 4 -I have a cat with no name (he was the stray who came in from the cold)<br 5- I have met Paul Hendersen and seen the Queen<br 6- I once lived in a haunted manor house with a moat<br 7 - I have been up in a glider plane once - it made me airsick especially when we looped the loop.<br 8 - I think my favourite colour is red, though I quite like blue too.<br 9 - I love Christmas - except the cooking bit<br 10 - I have walked to the top of Snowdon (the highest mountain in England and Wales) four times<br </p <p </pLena Coakley was born near the beach in Milford Connecticut, and she still loves the ocean. Her family tree is crowded with English professors, and the grandmother who raised her founded and directed a cooperative nursery school. How could she help but love children's books? <br <br She studied writing at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and writing for children with Peter Carver in Toronto, Canada. Her first picture book, <em On the Night of the Comet,</em was published in 2004, followed closely by Mrs Goodhearth and the Gargoyle in 2005. She has twice won second prize in the Sunday Star Short Story Contest.<br <br Lena is available for school and library visits across Canada and the US. Her website is <a href="http://www.lenacoakley.com" www.lenacoakley.com</a . <br <br