Natalia Paruzel-Gibson grew up backstage in the theaters and art galleries in Poland. Her mom’s passion for the arts inspired Natalia to write and create. After emigrating to Canada in 1990, Natalia was recognized by the Turzanski Foundation with a Young Talent Award for writing and reciting poetry. Her photography, silk screens, and art installations were exhibited in Toronto’s Nuit Blanche. Stimulated by her own experiences as a mother of two and driven to perceive the world through her children’s eyes, Natalia has been writing stories for children for the last decade. Her debut, Something Lost Something Found, which she wrote to help children move forward with grief, earned multiple awards. 

Nynke Boelens is a freelance illustrator living in the north of the Netherlands. She loves adding a touch of magic to stories with her illustrations. Her preferred tools are colored pencils, ink, watercolor, soft pastels, and anything else that produces beautiful colors. When Nynke isn’t drawing, she’s most likely reading a book, walking in nature, dancing, or enjoying a nice cup of coffee with a friend.