Queensland author Gary Crew has an outstanding reputation as a writer of young adult fiction and innovative picture books. His numerous prizes and awards include CBC Book of the Year: Older Readers for STRANGE OBJECTS and ANGEL'S GATE (1991 and 1994); CBC Picture Book of the Year shortlisting for LUCY'S BAY (1993); CBC Picture Book of the Year for FIRST LIGHT (1994); CBC Picture Book of the Year for THE WATERTOWER (1995); US Edgar Allan Poe Fiction Award shortlistings for STRANGE OBJECTS and ANGEL'S GATE (1991 and 1994) and the National Children's Book Award (1994) and US Children's Book of Distinction (1996). Gary is editor of the After Dark Series and author of the picture books FIRST LIGHT, THE LOST DIAMONDS OF KILLIECRANKIE, BRIGHT STAR, THE VIEWER, TROY THOMPSON’S EXCELLENT POETRY BOOK, TROY THOMPSON’S RADICAL PROSE FOLIO, MEMORIAL and LEO THE LION TAMER. His previous Lothian YA Fiction titles are MAMA'S BABIES and DEAR VENNY, DEAR SAFFRON.
Philip Neilsen is a fiction writer for adults, young adults and children, as well as an acclaimed poet. His twelve books include IMAGINED LIVES: A STUDY OF DAVID MALOUF (1996), THE STING IN THE WATTLE: AUSTRALIAN SATIRICAL VERSE (1993), EMMA AND THE MEGAHERO (1995) and two previous books for Lothian, THE WOMBAT KING and THE LIE (1997), which have been translated into German and Korean. His story in THE DARK HOUSE (ed. Gary Crew, 1995), was shortlisted for an Aurealis Award. Philip is Head of the Creative Writing program at the Queensland University of Technology, where he is an Associate Professor of English.