Mary and Rich Chamberlin are a husband-and-wife writing team. They love to travel and have done so extensively, including trips to Kenya and Tanzania, where they contracted "Mal Afrique" -- the strong desire to return to that great continent. They are longtime members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and cofounders of several local writers' groups. When they aren't busy writing, Mary works as a freelance Television Producer and Director, and Rich as an engineer. Mary and Rich live in Illinois, USA, where they share their home with their dog, Trisha, and their French-Lop rabbit, Bean.

Julia Cairns began her career as a fine artist in Botswana, Africa, where she lived for nine years. Though she now resides in the United States, Julia continues to be inspired by the joy and hopeful spirit that she found in the people of Botswana. Julia lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, two dogs, two horses and three chickens.