Simon Mundy studied drama at university, but soon veered towards writing poetry and reviews, and at 23 he found himself a music critic and arts journalist. A champion of the arts, he has served as Director of the National Campaign for the Arts and Vice-President of PEN International's Writers for Peace Committee, and he co-founded the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage; he remains an adviser to the European Festivals Association. His writing includes biographies, novels, non-fiction, playscripts and poetry. Born in Belarus, Ewgeniya Lyras gained a Master's degree in Business Administration in Prague, Czech Republic, and studied fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. She ran a fashion brand, before moving to video production. Presently, she splits her time between Prague and California, where she writes and works as a video producer and editor.