Mariesa Dulak was born in Yorkshire of dual heritage (Barbadian/English). She completed a degree in English Literature, an MA in Children’s Literature and worked in bookselling, and children’s publishing (Hachette, Penguin, Usborne and Walker Books) for twenty years before putting pen to paper herself. She now works part time as an author, picture book mentor and school librarian.

Mariesa’s first book There’s a Tiger on the Train (illus. Rebecca Cobb) won numerous awards including The Week Junior Picture Book of the Year Award. Her second book The Silver Shadow (illus. Alea Marley) was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and her third book The Ice Cream Crocodile (illus. Rebecca Cobb) has just published. Mariesa has previously been a judge on the Alligator’s Mouth Award for Illustrated Fiction. She lives and works in London.