Wild Robert

Diana Wynne Jones was born in London on August 16, 1934. In 1953, she began school at St. Anne's College Oxford and attended lectures by J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. After graduation, she created plays for children that were performed at the London Arts Theatre. Her first book was published in 1973. She wrote over 40 books during her lifetime including Dark Lord of Derkholm, Earwig and the Witch, and the Chrestomanci series. She won numerous awards including the Guardian Award for Children's Books in 1977 for Charmed Life, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in 1984 for Archer's Goon, the Mythopeic Award in 1999, the Karl Edward Wagner Award in 1999, and the Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Organization in 2007. Her book Howl's Moving Castle was adapted into an animated film by director Hayao Miyazaki, and the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. She died from lung cancer on March 26, 2011 at the age of 76. Emma Chichester Clark was born in London, England, but grew up in Ireland. In 1975 she went back to England to attend the Chelsea School of Art in London. After completing her undergraduate degree, she enrolled at the Royal College of Art for her master's degree. She was approached by an editor at London publisher Bodley Head to illustrate for her first children's book entitled, Listen to This. Clark is considered one of England's most distinguished picture book creators. She has written and illustrated many of her own picture books while also creating accompanying artwork for numerous stories, picture books, anthologies, and retellings by other writers, including Roald Dahl. In her own books, which include Up in Heaven, The Story of Horrible Hilda and Henry, and the award-winning I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!, she features child, adult, and animal characters in humorous situations that provide realistic portrayals of human feelings and failings. Clark was also a visiting lecturer at Middlesex Polytechnic and City and Guilds School of Art, 1984-86. She had an exhibition of her illustrations at the Thumb Gallery, England, 1984 and 1987.