Illustrator and artist Kate Knapp is a graduate of Queensland College of Art. Her Ruby books are inspired by her family in England, and memories of reading The Magic Faraway Tree, Paddington Bear and Raymond Briggs's Father Christmas. Babushka Galushka is based on her English grandmother. Kate lived in London for three years in her twenties, but now lives in Brisbane, Australia with her long term partner, where she runs a design studio, Twigseeds, which produces greetings cards, stationery, books and homeware. Ruby Red Shoes: A Very Aware Hare is the first book in her Ruby Red Shoes series and has been shortlisted for several Australian children's book illustration awards.