SF Said (he/him) is an award-winning, bestselling British childrenโs author. He was born in Lebanon, but has lived in London since he was two. His first book, Varjak Paw, won the Nestlรฉ Smarties Prize for Childrenโs Literature and was listed by BookTrust as one of the 100 best childrenโs books of the past 100 years. The Outlaw Varjak Paw won the BBC Blue Peter Book of the Year Award, while Phoenix was chosen to represent the UK on the IBBY Honour List. His new book, Tyger, won Childrenโs Book of the Year at the British Book Awards, Childrenโs Book of the Year at the Week Junior Book Awards, and the Foyles Childrenโs Book of the Year. All four books are illustrated by Dave McKean. SF Said has also written about childrenโs literature for both the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph newspapers, given talks at the British Library and on BBC Radio 4, and is a passionate campaigner for libraries, literacy, and reading for pleasure. Visit him online at sfsaid.com or on X/Instagram/Bluesky @whatSFSaid.
Dave McKean (he/him) is a multi-award-winning illustrator who has designed an incredible number of award-winning and ground-breaking books, collaborating with world-famous names in literature such as Neil Gaiman (Coraline), David Almond (Mouse Bird Snake Wolf), Richard Dawkins, and Ray Bradbury. He has also worked as a concept artist on films such as Harry Potter. Visit him on Instagram @davemckeanhourglass.