The Twits Next Door

GREG JAMES AND CHRIS SMITH are the multi-award-wining and bestselling authors of The Great Dream Robbery, Super Ghost and the Kid Normal series. They have been translated into over 20 languages and been shortlisted for both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Laugh Out Loud Award. Greg and Chris have championed children’s books widely, were judges for the Blue Peter Book Award in 2017 and were official World Book Day authors in 2020. They are also committed advocates for children’s literacy and are founding members of the Primary School Library Alliance - a campaign launched by Penguin Random House and the National Literacy Trust to address the lack of investment in UK primary school libraries - and were awarded in 2024 the Ruth Rendell Literacy Award, presented to those who have had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year, for their work promoting reading in schools. Outside of their writing partnership, Greg James is a radio and television broadcaster and Chris Smith a solo author of acclaimed children’s books Frankie Best Hates Quests and Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency.

EMILY JONES wanted to illustrate children’s books for a living immediately after reading ‘I want my potty’ by Tony Ross. It’s been a little while since that pivotal moment in Jarrow library aged 7 but she has finally achieved it. She lives in Cardiff with her partner and English Bull Terrier Whippet Cross, Augustus, who despite having never entered a beauty pageant, would definitely win one.