THOSE HAIRY EIGHT-LEGGED CREATURES/Tannia Sels,The illustrators

Koen HERWEYERS

Was born on 13 February.

Together with Renate Caals, he gave the persons in the book 'JUSTIN' a real face. Trough his mind and by his hands the little girl in the book came to life. Does it surprise you, when I told you that his oldest daughter, Laure, was his muse? Amazed that I borrowed his daughter's name? So the little girl in the book is also named Laure.

Koen Herweyers doesn't have an education in graphic arts. He draws only for the fun. He has studied medicine at the university of Antwerp (Belgium) and has graduated with great distinction and became a physician. Nowadays he is a very good doctor, with a continuously growing practice, a really compassionate man who does care for his patients.

Kristin JACOBS, his wife, and he have four children: Laure, Robin, Anthe and Febe. Whoever reads more of my books, will come across those names.

more pictures:

Want to meet doctor Koen? Why not! His practice 'Huisartsenpraktijk-Groenenborg' has its own site. Click if you're too curious:

Renate CAALS

(pseudonym:Spider)

She was born on 19 July.

Together with Koen Herweyers, she gave the story 'JUSTIN' pictures. By her hands, the garden-spider Justin, was born. Renate loves spiders. At home she takes care of various tarantulas. Maybe this interest in spiders can explain her pseudonym?

She illustrated also my watch-, read- and colorbook for young children, titled 'THE SPIDER AND HIS WEB'.

Renate Caals had an education in graphic arts and moulding. After that she has perfected herself in a special technique of printing. Then by herself created and moulded statue, named 'De Stroboer', was given as a first award to a well known society of Merksem.

You can see Renate with her husband Marc VAN WONTERGHEM by clicking on the button 'foto's'.

more pictures:

Anke VAN VLEM

Born on 23 August.

Anke goes to school in Antwerp (Belgium). She follows arts and graphics.

Later she would like to be a teacher for toddlers.

When she was 14, she had the luck to design the few pictures for my book 'CHIPS!', a diary of a 14 year old girl, with the same name.

As you can see on this picture, Anke also has learned not to be afraid of spiders anymore. Important for her, because her joungest brother keeps a few tarantulas as pets.