Mellany and Annabel met at primary school and kept in touch over the years whilst they went their separate ways (Annabel to Oxford & Mellany to the Royal College of Art). Annabel has been working in commercial law & Mellany has been working in the arts & media.

Along the way, Annabel met Jon and had a little girl: Millie (aged 3) and Mellany met Jimo and had a girl and boy: Maya and Saul (aged 6 and 3). Millie, Maya & Saul were the inspiration for Annabel & Mellany to create By Parents For Children, to write and publish children's stories.