Award-winning author Adele Geras spent much of her childhood moving from place to place. She settled in Oxford where she read Spanish and French at St Hilda's College. Much of her spare time was spent acting and singing -- she appeared in two plays that transferred to London's West End; Hang Down Your Head and Die and Four Degrees Over. Her first book was published in 1976 by Hamish Hamilton, who have since published a further twenty-two titles. To date Adele has written over 100 books for children, including the bestselling 'The Ballet Class' for Orchard and the highly acclaimed 'Troy' 'Scholastic' which was shortlisted for The Whitbread Prize. \n \nAdele regularly contributes to several children's journals, such as Books for Keeps and Carousel, as well as the Times Educational Supplement and The Guardian. A great deal of her poetry has been published in various magazines and anthologies. Apart from being a voracious reader, Adele is also a self-confessed knitter and moviegoer. She has two daughters and lives in Manchester with her husband. Shelagh McNicholas was born and grew up in Liverpool. She went on to study at Kingston University where she graduated with a BA 'Hons' in Graphic Design & Illustration. Apart from a short time spent teaching life drawing, Shelagh has always worked as an illustrator as well as being a full time mum to her daughter, Molly. \n \n'The Ballet Class' written by Adele Geras, was Shelagh's first picture book for Orchard Books. Her realistic and endearing illustrations perfectly complement the story of Tilly and her ambitions to become a top ballerina. \n \nShelagh is passionate about drawing and is happiest with her sketchbook and pencils. Her favourite subject is her daughter and it was her sketches of Molly as a ballerina that inspired her illustrations for 'The Ballet Class'. \n \nShelagh lives in Surrey with her daughter.