Felice Arena is an Australian children's author and illustrator known for the football-themed Specky Magee series, historical novels like Fearless Frederic, and playful picture books such as Pasta! and Cheese!. Born in Kyabram, Victoria, he studied teaching before pursuing acting, landing a role in Neighbours in 1992 and later writing his first book in a West End dressing room. Returning to Australia, he teamed up with AFL star Garry Lyon to create the popular Specky Magee series, which produced eight books from 2002 to 2011 and won the Young Australian Best Book Award three times. He also adapted his novel The Boy and the Spy for the stage and wrote historical fiction like The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, which was long-listed for the ARA Historical Awards. His latest picture books, including My Big Secret (2025), continue to showcase his versatility across genres.