Emily Gale has been involved in the children's book industry for nearly 20 years and has worked as an editor, reviewer, talent finder and literary award judge. She spent several happy years at independent bookshop Readings as a children's book buyer, during which time she was instrumental in establishing their Children's Book Prize. 

Emily's writing includes two novels for teenagers – Girl, Aloud and Steal My Sunshine – and Eliza Boom's Diary for younger readers. Living on the other side of the world from the place she grew up (and most of her family) means that concepts of home, belonging and displacement have long occupied Emily's mind, inspiring her to write The Other Side of Summer.

John Marsden has published more than 40 books, both fiction and non-fiction, and mostly for the teenage market. His latest novel, The Year My Life Broke (2013), is for younger readers, and has already been reprinted three times. John is Principal of Candlebark school, near Romsey Victoria.

Will Kostakis is an award-winning author. The Sidekicks, his third novel for young adults, was longlisted for the 2017 Gold Inky Award and the Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature. It was also included on the Notables list for the 2017 CBCA Young Adult Book of the Year.

Alice Pung is the bestselling author of Her Father’s Daughter, which won the 2012 Western Australia Premier’s Literary Awards, and Unpolished Gem which won the 2007 Australian Book Industry Newcomer of the Year Award; and is also published in the UK, Germany, Indonesia and the US. She is also the editor of Growing Up Asian in Australia.