Mel Hammond and Teghan Hammond are sisters who grew up punching each other whenever they saw a PT Cruiser, dyeing their hair blue together, and fabricating a fake band in which their middle brother was (allegedly) the lead singer. Writing Lucy, Uncensored was their first time co-writing. Unless you count the summer they spent scribbling down recipes for the strangest sandwiches you’ve ever heard of, like the Tax Exemption Wrap (Teghan) and the Nail Gun Sandwich (Mel).

Mel and Teghan spent their childhoods visiting Michigan City, Indiana, where their grandparents and extended family lived. Teghan moved to the state in 2013 to attend Manchester University, and she now lives in Fort Wayne. Though Mel officially lives in Madison, Wisconsin, she makes the trip “home” to Fort Wayne many times each year to visit her parents and sister.

Besides writing, Teghan enjoys drinking excessive amounts of coffee and volunteering for LGBTQIA+ causes. When she’s not tearing down gender norms, Teghan is probably watching cartoons or gaming. Mel spends a lot of her time walking in the woods and eating ice cream (not usually at the same time). Her next YA novel, Where the Girls Are Kept, comes out in summer 2027. Between the two of them, Teghan and Mel have five adorable cats.