Simon was born in Chichester in 1988 and has lived there ever since, although he occasionally leaves to buy milk. After gaining a 1st class degree in History at Exeter University, he immediately put his skills to good use working as a barman at a local pub. He soon grew tired of the owner calling him Andy, and so, naturally, decided to become a primary school teacher. Teaching rekindled his love of children’s literature, particularly picture books, so much so that he had a go at writing his own. Deciding he was better at writing stories for children than he would ever be at teaching them, he made a swift exit from education to live the cliché of the writer who works in a bar. He hopes that one day he’ll be able to give up writing stories and become a barman full-time.

Annabel Tempest is a hugely talented illustrator who loves colour, pattern, characters and sparkle. Ever since her fashion and textiles degree, she has worked as a freelance illustrator on a range of projects from maps and packaging to greeting cards and children's books. It All Began When I Said Yes is Annabel's first picture book for Simon & Schuster.