Neil GaimanNeil Gaimanwas born in Hampshire, UK, and now lives in the United States near Minneapolis. As a child he discovered his love of books, reading, and stories, devouring the works of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, James Branch Cabell, Edgar Allan Poe, Michael Moorcock, Ursula K. Le Guin, Gene Wolfe, and G. K. Chesterton. A self-described “feral child who was raised in libraries,” Gaiman credits librarians with fostering a lifelong love of reading: “I wouldn’t be who I am without libraries. I was the sort of kid who devoured books, and my happiest times as a boy were when I persuaded my parents to drop me off in the local library on their way to work, and I spent the day there. I discovered that librarians actually want to help you: They taught me about interlibrary loans.”

Neil Gaiman’s work has been honored with many awards internationally, including the Newbery and Carnegie Medals. His books and stories have also been honored with four Hugos, two Nebulas, one World Fantasy Award, four Bram Stoker Awards, six Locus Awards, two British Science Fiction Association Awards, one British Fantasy Award, three Geffens, one International Horror Guild Award, and two Mythopoeic Awards.P. Craig RussellA graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in painting,P. Craig Russellhas run the gamut in comics. After establishing a name for himself at Marvel onKillravenandDr. Strange, he went on to become one of the pioneers in opening new vistas for this underestimated field with, among other works, adaptations of operas by Mozart (The Magic Flute), Strauss (Salome), and Wagner (The Ring of Nibelung). Russell is also well known for hisFairy Tales of Oscar Wildeseries as well as his graphic novel adaptations of Neil Gaiman’sSandman: The Dream HuntersandCoraline. The author lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.Mike MignolaMike Mignola’sfascination with ghosts and monsters began at an early age; readingDraculaat age twelve introduced him to Victorian literature and folklore, from which he has never recovered. Starting in 1982 as a bad inker for Marvel Comics, he swiftly evolved into a not-so-bad artist. By the late 1980s, he had begun to develop his own unique graphic style, with mainstream projects likeCosmic OdysseyandBatman: Gotham by Gaslight. In 1994, he published the firstHellboyseries through Dark Horse. There are thirteenHellboygraphic novels (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien,andSir Edward Grey: Witchfinder), prose books, animated films, and two live-action films starring Ron Perlman. Along the way he worked on Francis Ford Coppola’s filmBram Stoker’s Dracula(1992), was a production designer for Disney’sAtlantis: The Lost Empire(2001), and was the visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro onBlade II(2002),Hellboy(2004), andHellboy II: The Golden Army(2008). Mike’s books have earned numerous awards and are published in a great many countries. Mike lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and cat.Jill ThompsonJill Thompsonis a comic book writer and artist. Thompson was educated at the American Academy of Art and has been working in the comic book industry for more than 25 years. Her first major illustration job was forWonder Woman,and she has since worked on more than 50 titles. She is a multi-time Eisner Award winner.