George M. Johnson grew up in Waterdown, ON, where he has fond early memories of weekly trips to the library with his Dad, an English teacher, and where he later worked (and read) as a student. For over 25 years he has been a Professor in the English and Modern Languages Department at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC where he teaches creative writing and Modern literature. Canoeing, camping, and cross-country skiing count among his outdoor passions. Living surrounded by mountains, with a wife from the prairies, inspired him to write Marisa and the Mountains.

Chelsea O’byrne is a freelance illustrator and art instructor based in Vancouver BC. She graduated from Emily Carr University in 2016 with a BFA in illustration and now works as a children’s art teacher and freelance illustrator.