M. Simonson, R.M. Gilete

M. Simonson and R.M. Gilete received their Ph.D.s in English literature and are currently working as teachers and researchers at the University of the Basque Country. They were investigating nineteenth-century documents about a foreign explorer that disappeared in the province of Álava when they were sent eight parcels that contained narrative material about two keys and a scarecrow.

Though they spent many years travelling back and forth between Slovakia and Spain, Simonson and Gilete never managed to find the senders. Undeterred, they continued investigating sources and trying to authenticate the documents.

The Scarecrow and the Storms is the result of their work. Though the focus of the three parts is on events surrounding the two keys and their curse, the original documents contain many other details about Mirluc and Cristian. Simonson and Gilete are currently editing these and hope to see them published over the next few years.

Robert Birch

In a determined effort to flee boredom, Mr Birch spent the first half of his life working in various jobs: singer, hamburger slinger, medical records supervisor, and a twenty-five year theatre carreer encompassing management, direction, design, acting and choreography. Along the way he found time to write advertising copy, redesign and rennovate flats, write musical arrangements, translate articles and work as an oral examiner for Cambridge University. His most recent adventures include a seventeen year carreer as an ESL teacher and molder of young minds. Given this inherent restlessness, it is understandable that he has not been able to set down roots. Thus at different times he has called Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Arizona his home, not to mention the countries of Ireland, South Korea, and Spain. He holds degrees in English, Theatre and Communication Arts and has translated introductions to seven books. He currently resides in a flat on a hill overlooking the city of Granada.