CHRISTOPHER HEALY held numerous other jobs before becoming a children's book author, including actor, ad copywriter, toy-store display designer, fact-checker, dishwasher, journalist, costume maker, video-game reviewer, and haunted-house zombie (though not in that order). He is the author of the popular Hero's Guide series, and lives in New Jersey with his wife, their two children, and a dog named Duncan. BEN MANTLE has most recently been working as a children's book illustrator from his shared studio in Brighton, England. He also produces screen prints and digital artwork for exhibitions. Ben has illustrated numerous picture books, including the popular books Five Little Pumpkins and There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight.