Who are the Musgroves?

Hey, I'm James.

I write the words.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved stories and they have always come easily to me. I was never short on ideas, though actually bringing those ideas to the page was the real challenge. Writing was something that did not come naturally. Trying to take what I could see so clearly in my mind and translate it into words was, and still remains, difficult. Still, I have always been persistent in my ambition to write and in doing so improve how I write.

Over the years I have spent time journaling, world building, writing plot outlines, early book chapters, and scripts, all in the hope that one day I might see something I had written printed.

I have never stopped writing, but I also never truly committed to one idea, one story, or one format. I never committed to anything because the same thought was always there in the back of my mind. What if it failed?

Then everything changed. I became a dad. This was not a sudden realisation that I should follow my dreams. Instead, it was a shift in perspective. It stopped being about the fear of failure or the judgement of others determining my value as a storyteller. Instead, it became something much simpler. What joy could my stories bring to my daughter? What might make her smile, laugh, or learn something? What could I give her that was more than just words on a page?

Then an idea came to me and I wrote it down. It was a picture book called The Little Moon Dragon, a story for my daughter. This journey begins with this very first picture book, lovingly illustrated by my wife. My writing journey started long ago, but my journey to become a full time author has just begun.

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And I'm Liz.

I draw the pictures.

I've always loved art. From the age of 12, I took every art class available, laying the foundation for a lifelong creative journey. I later studied advertising and marketing, where I discovered a love for graphic design and typography, and developed skills that continue to influence my work today.

My artistic roots are grounded in traditional media, particularly acrylic painting and oil pastels, and I’ve always been drawn to working on a large scale, the bigger the canvas, the better. In recent years, I’ve embraced digital illustration, which has opened exciting new creative possibilities and led me to focus on illustrating children’s books. As a mother, digital tools have been especially helpful in fitting creativity around family life.

Ten years ago, I moved to the UK from Canada for university, but I fell in love with Wales, and James, and knew I could never leave. I’m especially inspired by my husband’s imaginative worlds, and it’s a joy to help bring his stories to life, a collaboration that continues to shape and deepen my work as an artist.

Alongside my creative pursuits, I’m a full-time marketing manager, hobby baker, and gardener. Spending time with my family and enjoying life’s little joys often sparks ideas that find their way into my illustrations.

Together, We're the Musgroves

We make books.

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