The Smoking Hourglass

Jennifer Bell (Author) Londoner Jennifer Bell began working in children¿s books as a specialist bookseller at Foyles, Charing Cross Road ¿ one of the world¿s most famous bookstores. Here, she looked after the shop¿s five not-so-deadly piranha fish as well as recommending children¿s books to celebrities, royalty and even an astronaut! After having the privilege of listening to children talk about their favourite books for many years, she started writing one of her own. Jennifer came up with the idea of The Crooked Sixpence while packing for a holiday and wishing she could just disappear inside her suitcase and be there already. The magical world of Lundinor is inspired by sayings from traditional English nursery rhymes, and stories about the Cockney markets her grandparents used to visit.Karl James Mountford (Illustrator) Karl James Mountford has been drawing, painting and generally making a mess since he was a young nipper. This hasn't changed much as he's gotten older. Born in Germany and brought up in and around the UK, he now lives in the Midlands where his sketchbooks rarely get a day off.