Elena is a New Zealand author who lives in a rather chaotic house with her husband, three teenage children, their granny and a cat. Since she was little she has always enjoyed writing poems and making up stories. After completing a degree in English, Elena went on to work as a research librarian and now has a varied collection of part-time work. It wasn t until taking a short writing course five years ago, that she realised it might be possible to achieve her dream of becoming a published author. She has written several readers and her stories, poems and plays have appeared in The School Magazine. The Rain Train is her first picture book. About the illustrator Brian Lovelock is a scientist working in the power industry in New Zealand. He has painted all his life but has only recently ventured into the world of book illustration. His previous titles with Walker Books Australia include Your Mother Didn t Do That! and Roadworks which won the Picture Book category in the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults.