Behind the Books

Author

Judy Cannon

Judy grew up in the Central West region of NSW. After completing her secondary education and teacher training in Sydney, she returned to the country to teach and settle into family life with her husband and four children.

Now a grandmother of seven, Judy began writing stories and letters to encourage her grandchildren to read. Retirement gave her the opportunity to bring those stories to a wider audience, beginning with Who Has the Biggest Mouth? and continuing with In Grandma's Garden.

📍 Kelso, NSW

Illustrator

Verena Heirich

Verena is a Campbelltown-based artist with a diverse background in teaching art, including work at a local secondary school. Her artwork has been recognised in competitions and selected for the finals of the prestigious Fisher's Ghost Art Award.

Her original illustrations bring Judy's stories to life through expressive characters and whimsical details that encourage children to pause, observe and discover. After illustrating Judy's first book, Verena returned to create the garden world of their second title.

📍 Campbelltown, NSW

“The finished product is an absolute delight. While it did take quite some time and careful planning, a supportive team behind you makes all the difference.”

— Judy Cannon, on creating her first book