Jan Pryor was born in Blenheim, New Zealand, and has lived and worked in both New Zealand and the UK. Jan originally qualified as a biochemist but, alongside raising her family, went on to become a teacher and researcher in the area of children and families, latterly at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2003 she established the McKenzie Centre for the study of families and in 2008 became Chief Commissioner of the Families Commission in New Zealand. After Alexander has been written from two perspectives: first and foremost, that of mother, and second as an expert in family dynamics. Jan has had two award-winning short stories published, and is working on a novel - about families. Katharine E. Smith is a writer, editor and publisher. An avid reader of contemporary writers such as Kate Atkinson, David Nicholls and Anne Tyler, Katharine's aim is to write books she would like to read herself. She has three novels to her name, and one non-fiction guide, written with fellow indie authors in mind. Katharine runs Heddon Publishing from her home in Shropshire, which she shares with her husband and their two children.