Lavie Tidhar was in Dar-es-Salaam during the American embassy bombings in 1998, and stayed in the same hotel as the Al Qaeda operatives in Nairobi. Since then he and his now-wife have narrowly avoided both the 2005 London, King’s Cross and 2004 Sinai attacks—experiences that led to the creation of Osama. He is the author of many novels, including the Bookman trilogy and is a prolific short story writer.

Justina Robson is the UK author of thirteen science fiction and fantasy novels and many short stories. In addition to her original works, including a novel set in the Catt and Fisher universe – Salvation’s Fire – she has also written The Covenant of Primus, the 'bible' of The Transformers. She has tutored for the Arvon Foundation and been an awards judge for the Arthur C Clarke Award. She sometimes works as a freelance developmental editor. Visit www.justinarobson.co.uk or follow @JustinaRobson on Twitter.

Seanan McGuire (www.seananmcguire.com) writes things. It is difficult to make her stop. Her first book was published in 2009; since then, she has released more than thirty more, spanning multiple genres, all through traditional publishing channels, and has been awarded the Hugo Award three times and the Nebula Award once (so far). We’re not entirely sure she sleeps. We’re also not entirely sure she isn’t a living channel for the corn, green grow its leaves, shallow grow its roots. When not writing, she enjoys travel, spending time with her cats, and watching more horror movies than is strictly healthy for any living thing. Keep up with her online where she posts many, many pictures of the aforementioned cats. Seanan would like to talk to you about the X-Men, Disney Parks, and terrifying parasites. She can be bribed with Diet Dr Pepper to stop.