Thomas Michael Keneally was born in Sydney on 7 October 1935 and educated at St Patrick's College in Strathfield. He initially trained to become a Catholic priest at St Patrick's Seminary, Manly, before moving into a teaching career. While teaching he wrote his first novel, The place at Whitton, published in 1964. In 1965, Thomas married Judy Martin, a nurse, and they had two daughters named Margaret and Jane. Whitton was followed by other plays and novels, including Bring larks and heroes (1967) and Three cheers for the paraclete (1968), both of which won the Miles Franklin Award for Australian literature. His most famous novel, Schindler's ark (1982), also known as Schindler's list, became the first Australian novel to win the Booker Prize. In 1983 he received the Order of Australia for services to Australian literature.

Arlene Maude Sykes (1928 - 1990), was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Queensland and the founding Principal Advisory Editor of Australasian Drama Studies. In the 1950s she commenced work at the ABC on Australian theatre. She was a scholar, critic and teacher of Australian drama and literature and the author of numerous critical studies. She edited several volumes of playtexts by Australian writers, including those of her colleague Eunice Hanger. She was Principal Investigator for the Australian Drama Bibliography Project. Her list of Australian Drama Productions 1950 to 1969 was published by the Fryer Library in 1984.