The Mystery of the Russian Ransom (Screech Owls)
ROY MACGREGOR is the author of many hockey literature classics such as Home Team: Fathers, Sons and Hockey, Home Game, The 7 A.M Practice and the Screech Owls series. He was named a media inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013, when he was given the Elmer Ferguson Award for excellence in hockey journalism. He has been involved in hockey all his life, from playing all-star hockey in Huntsville, Ontario, against the likes of Bobby Orr from nearby Parry Sound, to coaching, and he still plays hockey in Ottawa where he lives with his wife Ellen. They have four grown children. Roy was inspired to write The Highest Number in the World when his now grown-up daughter starting playing hockey as a young girl. His lucky number is 13.Geneviève Després completed a degree in Industrial Design at the Université de Montréal, but decided instead to pursue her first passion: drawing. She turned to illustration, and worked in the fields of educational publishing, advertising, editorial, and children's literature. She then spent a few years in Europe, where she looked for inspiration and explored different techniques. Since her return to Quebec she has illustrated many books for children, including Le petit chevalier qui n'aimait pas la pluie and La grève du bain. As a young girl, Geneviève was very athletic and always picked first for school yard games--even before the boys! She still plays sports whenever she gets the chance, including Ultimate Frisbee, and competes in triathlons. She didn't get to play hockey because girls weren't offered the opportunity, but she cheers for all three of her boys (including her husband) who play. Geneviève lives in Saint-Lambert on the south shore of Montreal with her family.