E.R. Murray

West Cork-based E.R. Murray writes novels, short stories and poetry for children and young adults. Her novels include the award-winning Nine Lives Trilogy: The Book of Learning (Dublin UNESCO Citywide Read 2016), The Book of Shadows (shortlisted for Irish Literacy Association/Irish Book Awards), and The Book of Revenge. Other recent publications include a children’s Legends of the Land mythology audio series for SKODA, plus poetry in I Am the Wind (Little Island), and the short story ‘Garden for Grygoriy’ which features in Wild Wonders: An Anthology of Short Nature Stories for Children. She is is also an experienced event facilitator, providing hundreds of creative writing and book-related events every year, working with festivals, arts centres, schools and libraries to foster a love of creativity and reading as well being part of a team of professional artists working in day centres and community hospitals with Arts for Health West Cork. Her latest book Arabella Pepper: The Wild Detective is published by Natural World Publishing in April 2025.

Elizabeth’s book Arabella Pepper is illustrated by Monika Pollak who is a graphic designer by training and an illustrator by passion. She collaborates with various publishing houses, creating illustrations for children’s books, school textbooks, and designing book covers. She lives in northern Poland with her two sons – Big and Little – and an eccentric cat. Monika is a fan of jazz and swimming in the sea.