The Shoemaker's Boy

Joan Aiken (4 September 1924 - 4 January 2004) is the author of over a hundred books for adults and children, many of them classics. She worked on the magazine, Argosy, and wrote hundreds of short stories before her first novel, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was published in the early '60s. It was highly praised in Time magazine and its success allowed Joan to write full-time thereafter. She has said, "I would never want to do anything but write stories. It is inventing your own world, using all the bits of the real one that you like best. And that is something you can do anywhere, at any time."

Alan Marks is widely published and has illustrated many books. He is also a 'Smarties Prize' prize winner.