The Plastic Palace

Author In another life Danny Parker worked as a nurse, an actor and an undertaker before settling into work as a drama teacher. He is currently the Director of Drama and Youth theatre at Hale School, in Perth, WA. A chance meeting with fellow WA-based illustrator and author, Matt Ottley, lead to Danny's first picture book Tree in 2012. Their second collaboration, Parachute, was shortlisted for CBCA's 2014 Picture Book of the Year award. Proven as an immensely talented author, and with an imagination to rival any 5-year-old, Danny's next adventure sees him tackle the exciting world of junior fiction with the brand new early reader series Lola's Toy Box. No one to be idle, Danny will also be collaborating with award-winning illustrator Freya Blackwood in 2015 to release a picture book called Perfect.Illustrator Guy Shield is a Melbourne-based illustrator with a background in publishing and an obsession with drawing. After 10 years working in the publishing industry, Guy successfully made the jump from the world of book and magazine design and into illustration. Guy has worked with a litany of worldwide clients including Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, GQ Australia, WIRED magazine, Penguin, Luxury Travel, Drinkwise and Darebin City Council. Guy works primarily in pencil, pen and ink, and brings his black and white drawings to life in Photoshop. Most recently, Guy has been responsible for rebranding and creating the Kill Your Darlings magazine covers. Illustrating Lola's Toy Box is Guy's first foray into children's publishing.