Simon Mason (Author) Simon Mason is an author of children's and adult books. His first adult novel, a black comedy entitled The Great English Nude, won the Betty Trask first novel award and Moon Pie was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Running Girl is his first story starring Garvie Smith. Simon lives in Oxford with his wife and their two children. Helen Stephens (Illustrator) Helen studied illustration at Glasgow School of Art before moving to London where she currently lives as a full time author/illustrator. She has had several picture books published.