Nick Place began his writing career as a copy boy with the Melbourne Herald 20 years ago and has worked for magazines widely in the media. He now runs Melbourne media company Media Giants and says he fits creative writing ‘in the cracks in the rest of his life’. His first book for children, The Kazillion Wish, was published in 2003 and followed in 2004 by Thanks a Kazillion. The books feature Harlan and Ainsley Banana who, in the first volume, wish for an also-mum and set out on an adventure to make it come true. In the sequel, Ainsley is kidnapped by Martians and it falls to Harlan and his team to rescue her. In January, Nick published a third children’s book, The OK Team, a comedy adventure set in a universe teeming with superheroes.