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Those involved with Chameleon Not Just for Kids Books come from very diverse backgrounds but all have the desire to
introduce young children to the fun of reading and learning.

Aileen Edwards – Author

Aileen Edwards was a microbiologist. Most of her working life was spent in her home country, Scotland, with a short spell in Montreal, Canada, and a brief period in Kaduna, Nigeria. Aileen Edwards was married with two children and three grandchildren. Her hobbies included gardening and writing children’s stories. Many of her kids stories are based on nature and, when her sister put her in touch with illustrator, Judy Maré, in Cape Town, South Africa, these children’s stories took on a new dimension and came to life. Children’s development and education were very important to her and she hoped her kids stories would engage them in this process and make reading and learning fun. Many of her stories were written in rhyme, which young children are known to enjoy, but she hoped they would appeal not just to children but to their parents and grandparents as well.

Judy Maré – Illustrator and Author

Judy Maré was born and schooled in Zimbabwe and trained as a Graphic Designer at Michaelis Art School, UCT, South Africa. Living in beautiful Cape Town, Judy Maré is married with two children and has always enjoyed children’s books and toys. She started work in fashion advertising and toy packaging but specialising in illustration, she has now been freelancing for over 30 years, with time spent working in New York and London. The last ten years Judy Maré has concentrated mainly on children’s educational books with her illustrations appearing in over 80 publications. She regularly illustrates for Envirokids, the children’s magazine associated with Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. Judy Maré has also illustrated My first book of Southern African Seashore Life and My first book of Southern African Ocean Life published by Random House Struik.

Liz McKenzie – Author

Liz McKenzie is a teacher by profession. On her retirement after 30 years of teaching children in 4 different continents she exchanged the classrooms for the open bushveld and a land rover and began teaching children of all ages about conservation of the land and the behaviour of all those creatures great and small that are to be found in our game reserves in South Africa. Storytelling is second nature to her and she has been sharing her stories since she was a child. Liz believes that not only do children absorb knowledge when listening to stories, they enhance their concentration and comprehension skills while being entertained, and children too will be encouraged to weave their own stories together. Liz has learned so much from the questions children ask which lead her to look into a way to answer children by writing Mystery of the Missing Spots.

Marina Rust-Evans – Author

Marina Rust-Evans is a South African farmer, musician, animal-lover, mother and certified Natural Health Practitioner. She studied agriculture, tourism, natural health and obtained her BA French language and music degree at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape where she lives on a farm with her family, husband, daughter Annabella and their animal children, one being the famous MooMoo. Her life has always been closely associated with nature and animal life. She has co-created two children’s books of a real-life story of adventures with the bullock MooMoo. She rescued him in 2006 and has been caring for him like her own child since. Her life purpose is to contribute to a movement to awaken humanity’s connection to self and to nature. With her books she wants to encourage a positive transformation towards a healthy planet for future generations and a kinder world for all animals inspired by positivity and love.

Janine Avery – Author

Janine Avery excelled in English at high school and went on to study her Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media with a major in writing. Janine Avery has worked as a freelance graphic designer and copywriter for a number of years and has been involved in the writing and development process for a number of ghost blogs, screenplays, articles and other media initiatives. Janine currently works as copy writer, editor and product developer for a South African based tour operator. Janine also freelances for Chameleon Not Just For Kids Books as an online consultant, blogger and social media professional.

Steven Maré – Author & Technical Support

Steven Maré was born and raised in Cape Town but has also spent some time studying scriptwriting in Vancouver, Canada. He has a backround in both the film industry and IT but also has a creative side with writing and illustration. He has a love for animals and quite often looks after and walks the dogs of his neighbourhood.