Now the Fire Starts

Matt Goodfellow (Author) br Matt Goodfellow was born in Withington, Manchester. He was a primary teacher in East Manchester for over 10 years. Matt visits schools, libraries, conferences and festivals around the UK and beyond, inspiring children and adults to get involved with poetry through his performances and workshops. He's worked with organisations including the Premier League, the National Literacy Trust, BookTrust, National Poetry Day, the Forward Arts Foundation and CLPE. Matt has written poetry collections for a wide range of age groups. His debut verse novel The Final Year, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, became an instant bestseller and has gone on to win and be shortlisted for many different awards including the CLiPPA, Carnegie, Branford Boase, and the FCBG Children's Book Award.brbrJoe Todd-Stanton (Illustrator) br Joe Todd-Stanton grew up in Brighton, where he was taught to draw by his mum. He went on to get a first-class degree in illustration from the University of the West of England and is now an author and illustrator of picture books and graphic novels. His first picture book The Secret of Black Rock won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and The Comet won the Yoto Carnegies Shadowers' Choice Award. Joe lives in London.brbr