About the Author

Hi, I'm Nicki the author of Where Magpies Dream.

I was born in Whitley Bay with my brothers, and we were raised on the North East coast, from Shields right up to Berwick. We had a caravan in Bamburgh, where we spent our weekends sprinting across cow fields, rolling down the sand dunes or climbing really old trees. The last one i got very good at to avoid being 'tagged' by my brothers.

I made a living in Learning and Development, specialising in human behaviours and self-awareness. I played hockey for WBTHC since I was at school and still do (when I can). 

I had my eldest daughter at the start of 2021 when the world was weird. We couldn't go far but I loved walking with her, having adventures and introducing her to my favourite trees.

Two days before my second daughter was born on 21st June 2024 (summer solstice) we found out she no longer had a heartbeat. That morning, I found myself on the seafront staring at the sunrise on the horizon; the same horizon I'd seen so many times, the same lighthouse. This happened to me over and over in the months that followed. Things were a blur, everything seemed different but the landscape and landmarks I knew so well were there, still standing strong and embracing me when I needed them the most. 

A few after I had a dream about a Magpie who flew across the region. I woke up, wrote it down and that is how the book was born. Dreams have a wonderful way of regulating our emotions and I had been struggling with the guilt I felt about receiving so much support, without any way to possible repay it. This dream offered me a way to show my gratitude. The landmarks in the book aren't just landmarks they represent the people who also held us up as a family, and offered unwavering support. 

I have always loved the premise of the Angel of the North. That she looks outward, down the country to protect the North. And I guess Hadrians Wall for similar reasons, not as a divider, but as a protector. 

Since then I have had my third child, Leo, named after the starsign, which on June 21st at sunset is always visible on the western horizon. Just like his sister he will be raised outdoors, picking wildflowers, running through fountains and scrambling over seaweed covered rocks. 

So that's me and my brood. If you see us around please come and say Hi 👋🏼  We all love to chat. 

- Nicki 

Instagram @nmwritingdreams

About the illustrator

Hiya there! My name’s Tiffany, or Tiff for short. I’m the other half of the creative brain behind Where Magpies Dream.

I’m an emerging graphic designer and illustrator from Jakarta, Indonesia and now based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Originally, I moved to Newcastle to earn my graphic design degree at Northumbria University and during the final bits of uni, I came to realise that I really love combining design and illustration to create something that feels alive and meaningful.

Somehow, that journey led me to Nicki, who gave me the opportunity to hop aboard Where Magpies Dream my first ever project since graduating and it's a children’s picture book project, the thing i'm most passionate about.

If I could describe my work, I’d say it feels warm, paired with vibrant colours, and texture is always a must, and I love making things feel handmade, even though most of the time I’m working this digitally through my trusty iPad. I really do enjoy projects where I’m able to create a whole other visual world, one of the biggest reasons why I’m so drawn to books, illustration, and children’s picture books.

Where Magpies Dream has been such a special and huge project for me, especially the journey. Coming all the way from Indonesia and making the North East my second home, I loved being able to visit and illustrate all the different landmarks here and those places started to feel familiar to me too, that made me feel like I wasn’t quite so far away from home. I also loved being involved in both the illustration part and the wider design of the book and bringing it all together, it feels like watching all the pieces slowly click into place.

I’m still at the very beginning of figuring out where this creative journey might take me, but I’d truly love to keep creating work that brings stories and worlds to life. Whether that’s another children’s book, illustration, book design or anything that’s new and different, I’m definitely down to connect with other brilliant creatives and people who have stories to tell. So if you ever come across my work and fancy saying hi, please do, I’d love to chat with you! 😊

- Tiff

Instagram @Tiffs_lab

Thank you for being here!