Authors

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Silvio Bruinsma (author) Silvio Bruinsma could never have imagined the path he had stepped onto when he convinced his wife Sarah to adopt a cheeky and playful Turkish angora kitten. Mittens' penchant for exploring soon emerged, and Silvio realised that being his guardian meant calls at random times of day and night to go out and collect him. When the Bruinsmas moved to a house on The Terrace adjacent to the CBD, Mittens' habitual wanderings suddenly gained a high profile. A Facebook page set up by the local SPCA, 'The Wondrous Adventures of Mittens', has grown to more than 67,000 members, there's been an exhibition of fan art, a sellout line of Mittens merch, and even a number-one hit song. Silvio, an accountant, is now using his skills to ensure that Mittens' immense popularity gives back to the community that loves him. Silvio says Mittens has showed him how something can go viral, and also the vital role that animals can play in people's mental health and wellbeing. Phoebe Morris (Illustrator) Award-winning freelance illustrator Phoebe Morris works from a small studio in Wellington. Among her many critically acclaimed picture books, she is most known for her bestselling biographies of famous New Zealanders, collaborations with author David Hill. She is also the illustrator of the Frankie Potts series by Juliet Jacka and the Charlie Tangaroa series by Tania Roxborogh, and was invited to exhibit her work at Parliament in an exhibition for up-and-coming women artists. In 2018 Phoebe was a finalist for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults' Russell Clark Award for Illustration. Somewhat tragically for an animal-lover, she is highly allergic - that's why she leapt at the chance to draw Mittens. Find out more about Phoebe and her work at phoebemorriscreative.com

Lucie Brunelliere is a graphic artist and illustrator who has created numerous books for children. She studied applied arts in Angouleme, visual communication in Paris, and at the Strasbourg School of Decorative Arts, France.

Lucie Brunellière is a graphic artist and illustrator who has created numerous books for children. She studied applied arts in Angoulême, visual communication in Paris, and at the Strasbourg School of Decorative Arts, France.

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Richard Brunton co-founded Colmar Brunton in 1981 and built it into New Zealand's best-known market research company. He retired in 2014 and has since devoted his time to writing, speaking and ministry, in New Zealand and beyond. He is also the author of the bestselling Awesome Power of Blessing and the book Anointed for Work.

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George Bryant, QSM, JP, MA(Hons), DipEd, DipTheol, AFNZIM, ATCL is one of New Zealand's leading writers on people in society, based on his experiences as a teacher, preacher, public speaker, politician and community worker. He is a member of the NZ Society of Authors and NZ Christian Writers.New Zealand 2050 is his 24th book. He has also written 23 booklets, and many articles for newspapers and magazines. George studied sociology and holds a number of qualifications in education, theology and management. A former high school principal, he is an ordained Christian minister and active member of a number of organisations.

Arachnologist Cor Vink has a special interest in the systematics of New Zealand spiders, and he has also worked on spider ecology, biosecurity and biological control. He has produced over 50 scientific articles and in 2010 he co-authored an illustrated guide to the spider families of New Zealand. Bryce McQuillan is a freelance wildlife photographer specialising in macro; spiders are his main passion. His work has featured in magazines around the world, particularly New Zealand Geographic.