Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn (Lulu Bell #1)

From Serena's website.'So you’re here to find out what I’ve been up to the last thirty something years to be illustrating children’s books?I’ve always enjoyed drawing (I think we are meant to say this…) and even though it took most of my adult life to finally branch into illustrating full time, it was always a big part of my life and quite often an escape.I spent six years working for Walt Disney Animation in Sydney with a fabulously mad group of talented artist on sequels to The Lion King, Peter Pan Return to Neverland, Lady and the Tramp and Jungle Book. Even with the intense training we had at Disney and the long hours of tedious work, I am still unable to draw to a model sheet let alone a mouse in trousers.In 2009 the interest in illustrating picture books became as strong as my coffee order and with the sudden end of my job, it all seemed like the right thing to pursue. Within three months I had my first contract with a small publishing house in Sydney and over four years I have illustrated seventeen books ranging from board books to picture books and junior novel series.I work traditionally and even though I am starting to experiment with digital, I still prefer creating with pencil, ink and watercolours. My years at Disney have enabled me to illustrate fairly quickly using movement and expression, which are re occurring elements throughout my work.I enjoy playing with humour and awkward embarrassing moments with my characters as well as adding extra details into some of the illustrations to tell a story within the story. I’m a fabulous daydreamer and have found it is the best link to your imagination (apparently I did it all the time as a child, now I can hide behind my sunglasses as an adult) and is something I draw inspiration from when talking with children.I hope this gives you a little insight into who I am, and my journey so far.'

Belinda Murrell has worked as a travel journalist, technical writer, editor and public relations consultant. Her overseas adventures inspired her work as a travel writer for the West Australian newspaper and Out & About With Kids travel magazine. Her work has also appeared in the Sun Herald, Sunday Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald. While Belinda studied Children's Literature at Macquarie University, her passion for children's books was reignited when she had her own three children and began telling and writing stories for Nick, Emily and Lachlan. Belinda's books include the Sun Sword fantasy trilogy, Scottish timeslip tale The Locket of Dreams, French Revolution timeslip tale The Ruby Talisman, Australian timeslip tale The Ivory Rose and Australian historical tales The Forgotten Pearl and The River Charm.