Sally Featherstone
Sally Featherstone was born on Hayling Island, Hampshire. Her father was an architect and her mother a teacher. The middle of five children, she spent much of her childhood babysitting her younger siblings or trying to avoid her two older ones. When she wasn’t doing either, she could be found playing for hours in the fields surrounding their house or along the muddy north shore.
At 18, she attended Goldsmiths, London, where she studied education and drama. It was there she met her husband, Phill, and they have been together ever since.
Phill is originally from the north of England. When they first met, she had never travelled north of London. They began married life working in London, but over time they gradually moved further north. Although it may not have been a deliberate plan on Phill’s part, they eventually settled in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire, where he had been born and raised. She fell in love with the landscape there, and it was in that setting that she wrote Flora and Grass.
Clare Beswick
Trained as an early years teacher, Clare specialised in working with babies and very young children with special needs and their families. She was lead officer for early years and childcare in Nottinghamshire before taking a career break to care for her own young children. Clare has trained for Parentline Plus and acts as a consultant for Daycare Trust and early years organisations. She writes for many early years publications, including Early Years Educator and is co-author of the Little Baby Books series. She has also written several of the Baby & Beyond books as well as popular titles for the Little Book Club. Clare is currently a trustee of the Wirral Autistic Society.
Anne Vize
Anne Vize specialises in writing for children and young people who learn in different and unique ways. She is a special educator and writer from Melbourne and works to develop print and digital resources for children, their teachers and supporters. She works in the vocational sector developing learning resources for training providers and creates freelance content to support the new vocational major curriculum in Victoria. Anne is fortunate to be able to divide her time between writing and exploring the wonders of sailing and windsurfing on the stunning Port Phillip Bay.
Anne brings a deep understanding of how to create meaningful, inclusive learning resources that respect and engage diverse learners. Her work is grounded in classroom experience and a belief that every student deserves content that reflects their world, without distractions or clutter.
From literacy and life skills to employability and vocational learning, Anne’s resources support students who learn differently – offering clear, age-appropriate materials with real-life relevance.
Widely published across Australia, New Zealand and the UK, her work is trusted by teachers seeking practical, accessible tools that help all learners thrive, grow and see themselves in their learning.
