Heather Fehring is Emerita Professor at RMIT University, where she has taught for many years in literacy development, assessment and spelling. She has published widely in these fields, presented at national and international conferences, and received the Australian Literacy Educators' Association Medal for sustained contribution to the organisation.
Valerie Thomas began her career as a primary school teacher before moving into senior English teaching and serving as English Coordinator at a large Melbourne secondary school. She later joined the Curriculum Branch of the Victorian Education Department, specialising in the teaching of spelling. She is also the author of the beloved children's picture book series Winnie the Witch, which has been sold around the world since 1987.