Jennifer Bell worked as a children’s bookseller at a world-famous bookshop before becoming an author. She began working in children's books as a specialist bookseller at Foyles, Charing Cross Road - one of the world's most famous bookstores. Here, she looked after the shop's five not-so-deadly piranha fish as well as recommending children's books to celebrities, royalty and even astronauts. After having the privilege of listening to children talk about their favourite books for many years, she started writing one of her own
Her debut novel, The Uncommoners: The Crooked Sixpence, was an international bestseller. Jennifer came up for the idea of The Crooked Sixpence while packing for a holiday and wishing she could just disappear inside her suitcase and be there already. The world of Lundinor is inspired by sayings from traditional English nursery rhymes as well as the stories Jennifer grew up with about the Cockney markets her grandparents used to visit.
She is also the author of Agents of the Wild, an adventure series for younger readers; Wonderscape, which was selected as a Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month and is inspired by some of her favourite heroes from history and her love of gaming; and Legendarium, which celebrates incredible legends from around the world. Magicalia: Race of Wonders is the first in an exciting new fantasy series.
Author's Website: https://www.jennifer-bell-author.com/
Founder of the hugely successful Authorfy and Little Star Writing, Mel Taylor-Bessent has made her career connecting readers to their favourite authors and encouraging children to write for pleasure. After gaining a Creative Writing degree, Mel launched her first business at the age of 22 and ran creative writing workshops for thousands of children aged 6-12. As a result, she also arranged hundreds of author events and witnessed first-hand the positive impact these interactions had on her students. In 2017, she decided to replicate this via online 'Author Masterclasses' on a website she created called Authorfy.com.
Since then, Authorfy has gone on to win numerous awards, partner with the likes of World Book Day and BookTrust, and is used in classrooms all over the world.
Mel is the best-selling author of The Christmas Carrolls and Race to Imagination Island series and has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. In 2025, Mel was shortlisted for the Ruth Rendell Award in 2025 for her work championing literacy in the UK.
Author's Website: https://www.meltaylorbessent.com/
