Angie Sage was born in London and grew up in the Thames Valley, London, and Kent. She now lives in Somerset in a very old house that has a secret tunnel below it. The first four books in the Septimus Heap series are international bestsellers. She is also the author of the Araminta Spookie series.

Brett Helquist's celebrated art has graced books from the charming Roger, the Jolly Pirate to the alarming New York Times bestselling A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. He earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University, and has been illustrating ever since.