Alain de Botton was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and now lives in London. He is a writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life.’ He has written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bestsellers in 30 countries. He also started and helps to run a school in London called The School of Life, dedicated to a new vision of education.

Janet Smyth is an arts programme consultant specialising in strategic planning of events, programmes and projects for children, young people, educators and care-givers within festivals and creative spaces. She has worked with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the National Galleries of Scotland, Seven Stories in Newcastle and is currently Children’s and Families Programmer for International Literature Festival Dublin, Programme Consultant for the Bath Children's Literature Festival and Reading is Magic virtual festival, Children and Families Programme Curator for the Boswell Book Festival in Scotland and Programme Consultant for the TIFA Kids 2021 Festival.