The Exiles: Volume 1

Hilary McKay was born in Boston, Lincolnshire where she grew up the eldest of four girls in a family devoted to books. She writes novels for children, which are popular for their lively sense of humour, and often involve eccentric families. Her first book, The Exiles, about a family called the Conroys who have an unusual family life, was published in 1991. It won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and was followed by further books in the series.

Marie Lawrence is a northern English actor and voice artist based in London. She grew up in Cheshire and studied at Bretton Hall, University of Leeds. She is also an award-winning comedy actor who has worked in television and theatre, her highlights include Class Dismissed, Murder in Successville, The Duchess, PhoneShop, The Understudy and Tony! The Tony Blair Rock Opera. Marie has previously narrated We Belong Together by Beth Moran and Felicia Yap's Future Perfect.