The Hat of Great Importance

Born in Virginia and raised in both Hawaii and the state of Washington, Patrick Ness is the British-American author of seven novels and a short-story collection. He has won the Carnegie Medal twice, The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. In 2012 his bestselling novel A Monster Calls became the first ever to win both the Kate Greenaway and Carnegie Medals. His books are published in more than 20 languages. He has lived in London for more than 20 years.

Robert Slade is a Canadian stage, film and television actor residing in London. He began his career in theatre and has since expanded to work in film and television. His on-screen roles include children's show Fred Penner's Place and For the Moment, alongside Russell Crowe. In 2005, he moved to London where his career flourished appearing in Casino Royale, Hyde Park on Hudson, Red Lights and in the BBC documentary The Wild West: Billy the Kid. He has also recorded radio commercials and audiobooks and appeared as multiple characters in the computer games So Blonde and ShellShock2.