Topsy and Turvy

Born in New Zealand, Justin D’Ath is one of twelve children. He came to Australia in 1971 to study for missionary priesthood. After three years, he left the seminary in the dead of night and spent two years roaming Australia on a motorbike. While doing that he began writing for motorbike magazines. He published his first novel for adults in 1989. This was followed by numerous award-winning short stories, also for adults. Justin has worked in a sugar mill, on a cattle station, in a mine, on an island, in a laboratory, built cars, picked fruit, driven forklifts and taught writing for twelve years. He wrote his first children’s book in 1996. To date he has published fifteen books. He has two children, two grandchildren, and one dog.

Emma Quay grew up near Cambridge, England, and as a child drew little characters on every scrap of paper she could find. She wanted to be a children’s book illustrator from a very early age. Soon after college, The Victoria and Albert Museum in London purchased examples of Emma’s illustrative work, for its permanent collection of prints and drawings. After moving to Sydney in 1993, Emma was introduced to the publisher Mark Macleod with whom she has enjoyed working on five picture books to date. She both wrote and illustrated Reggie and Lu. Emma has also illustrated titles from the popular Aussie Nibbles series. Emma lives in Sydney with her Australian husband and two young daughters.