After completing a degree in Drama at the University of Exeter, Kim Hillyard spent nine years working as a music journalist for various publications, including NME, Time Out and the BBC. She has also worked as a drama and arts facilitator, delivering assemblies, storytelling and workshops in schools, bookshops and community spaces on everything from phonics to creative writing. Kim's debut picture book, Mabel and the Mountain, won the 2020 Sainsbury's Children's Book Award and her second title (Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race) was released in January 2021.