Meet Our Kid Lit Authors
Our authors are among the most talented in the industry, ranging from break-out debuts to award-winning bestsellers. It is our pleasure to introduce you to them.
Since The Seymour Agency's founding in 1992, we have sold thousands of titles and have had the privilege of representing hundreds of clients. A few of them are listed below.
If you would like to find out more about our authors and their works, please visit the Literary Sales pages on Publishers Marketplace or search for a listing of recent sales.
Our Kid Lit Authors
Maria Wen Adcock
Maria Wen Adcock is the author of IT'S CHINESE NEW YEAR, CURIOUS GEORGE (2023) and MY NAME IS AI LIN (2025). Maria is a first-generation Chinese-American writer and founder of the award-winning multicultural parenting blog www.BiculturalMama.com. She has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, Bloomberg News, Newsday, News12, and Huffington Post. Maria is a board member of Multicultural Kid Blogs, an organization supporting diverse parenting bloggers, and co-host of the annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day event. She also works at the local library in the children’s department. Maria resides on Long Island with her husband and two children.
Awards:
Maria’s BiculturalMama.com blog is a “50 Parenting Blogs Worth Reading and Following” and a “NYC Parenting Bloggers of Tomorrow” winner. New York Metro Parents magazine named her site a “Best Parenting Blog,” and the site was a "30 Best Asian American Blogs" honoree.
Website:
https://www.BiculturalMama.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mariawenadcockauthor
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/biculturalmama
X/Twitter:
Sahtinay Abaza
Sahtinay Abaza has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and an MBA. She spent most of her career life working with software companies around the globe.
She grew up in the United Arab Emirates before making Florida her permanent home. Having experienced life on both ends of the globe, she is an advocate for diversity and inclusion. Most importantly, Sahtinay is a proud mother of two little girls, who have been the main source of inspiration behind the stories she writes.
Instagram:
@abazabooks
Twitter:
@abazabooks
Marzieh Abbas
Raised between the bustling cities of Dubai, UAE and Karachi, Pakistan, Marzieh Abbas loves traveling, reading and samosas. She is a member of SCBWI-International Central and a graduate of the Children’s Book Academy. Whether she is writing picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels or poetry, Marzieh is passionate about bringing diverse cultures and characters to children all around the world.
She is active on Twitter, where she continues to form connections with the Writing Community, runs a kidlit review group on Facebook (Children’s Book Reviews- CBR Global) and blogs about her author journey and life in Pakistan on Instagram.
Photo by Mujtaba Abbas.
Website: www.marziehabbas.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarziehAbbas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marziehabbas_author/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/marziehabbas/
Nadia Ali
Nadia Ali is a children’s author who writes fiction and nonfiction picture books. Her stories range from funny to fanciful to factual.
She is active on Twitter, making valued connections and networking with fellow writers. She is a member of Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 community and was pleased to be part of a couple of Virtual Launch Teams. She was honored to be a Grand Prize Winner in the #SunFunWrite Contest, a #DVPit Critique Winner and a Picture Book Party Finalist in 2021.
She was born in London, UK and currently resides in the Caribbean where she happily swapped out London’s grey skies for clear blue skies. She lives with her husband and has two married daughters. When she is not writing she can be found in the kitchen whipping up a super sweet dessert.
She is thoroughly thrilled to be represented by Joyce Sweeney.
Website: https://nadia-ali.weebly.com/
Twitter:
@NadiaAwriter
Ugo Anidi
Ugo Anidi is mad about all things children’s books! She’s a lifelong reader (think all the volumes of Britannica and Shakespeare at age 11) and writer, (yup! she used to sell her stories to her classmates in 4th grade).
She’s a sucker for fried plantains, suya, and a good book with slices of magic and cups of history laced with 3 big teaspoons of mythology and a dash of mystery.😊 Add sprinkles of dry humour and you’ve made her day. She writes picture books, chapter books and middle grade. She hopes to create mirrors for Nigerian kids, at home and in the diaspora, and windows into life in Nigeria for children all over the world.
She’s the Regional Advisor for the Nigerian Chapter of SCBWI, a member of Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 community and an MFA Candidate in the Writing for Children and Young Adults Program at VCFA.
In her ‘other’ life, she is a lecturer in law and she plays a mean game of Scrabble. She shares her home in Lagos, Nigeria with her husband, three sons, 300 books and the characters in her head.
Website:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UgochinyeluA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugoanidi
Maya Ameyaw
Maya Ameyaw is a contemporary YA writer. She was born and raised in Toronto by a family of poets and artists. Previously, she worked as a bookseller while studying sociology at York University. She currently works for InkWell Workshops, a community writing group for people with lived experience of mental health issues and as a counsellor at the Canadian Mental Health Association. Maya has curated and edited several mental health themed anthologies for youth and adults with funding from the Toronto Arts Council. When It All Synchs Up, her contemporary YA work in progress, has been awarded grants by the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council of the Arts.
Maya has a YouTube channel where she interviews YA authors about their unique paths to publication and debut experiences. In her free time, she enjoys cuddling up with her adorable dwarf rabbit and devouring as much YA as possible.
Website: https://mayaameyaw.com/
Twitter:
@mayaameyaw
Instagram:
@mayaameyaw
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXXgy4lFnbuSM4fsQJmVjGw
Neesa Bally
Neesa is a diverse picture book author of upcoming books: WE ARE HOPE (Reycraft, 2025), THE PONE PACT (Reycraft, 2026), and REBORN (Reycraft, 2027) and CURRENT GONE (Abrams Children’s, 2026).
She writes stories that range from heartfelt and lyrical to humorous and whimsical. She draws inspiration from her childhood experiences as well as from the wonder of her own imagination. She lives on the beautiful island of Trinidad with her husband, two daughters and four dogs.
Instagram:
@neesabally
Twitter:
@neesabally
Facebook:
@NeesaBally
Website:
Adam Berg
Adam Berg is a real human boy and not a figment of his dog’s imagination. He started his career in sketch comedy, spending seven years writing and acting for Studio C. Now he works for JK Studios. His love of writing has pushed him to explore TV, film, gaming articles, and YA fantasy novels.
Born and raised in Utah, he spends his days jotting down dumb jokes and annoying his maltipoo with relentless kisses. If you Google him, just know he's not actually worth 10 million dollars (yet?) or is a 50-year-old Swedish film director (yet).
Instagram:
@heyadamberg
Threads:
@heyadamberg
Twitter:
@theadamberg
Karin Biggs
As the biological product of an astronaut and an artist, Karin was born with the gift of daydreaming and the inability to solve math problems in her head. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University and served as an event planner for two Big 10 universities and various non-profits for over eight years before becoming a stay-at-home-mom. Her debut novel, the King's 100, released in July of 2020 through Immortal Works Press and was selected as the Indie Author Project’s 2021 YA Winner for the state of Ohio. She enjoys chocolate-covered peanuts, uninterrupted sleep, and singing. Karin lives in Indiana with her husband, daughter, son, cat, and dog.
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BiggsWrites
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorkarinbiggs/?hl=en
Website:
karinbiggs.com
Kelly Anne Blount
Kelly Anne Blount is a USA Today bestselling author of young adult novels. She loves to alternate writing sweet romances, gritty thrillers, and fantasy books. She’s a firm believer in balancing light with dark.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably lost in a book, watching Twilight, or having an adventure with her sweet family, which includes her handsome husband, their darling daughter, and their five furry loving rescues.
After living in a palace in Scotland, across from the Caribbean Sea, and in the snowy land of Wisconsin, Kelly and her family reside in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. She draws inspiration from the places she’s lived while world building in her books.
Kelly loves connecting with readers on social media! Stop by and say, “Hi!” or ask a question. You can find her everywhere @KellyAnneBlount.
Website: www.kellyanneblount.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kellyanneblount
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kellyanneblount
Snapchat:
@KellyAnneBlount
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kellyanneblount
Other: www.wattpad.com/kellyanneblount
Author Newsletter link: http://kellyanneblount.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0bc41130c2d01cf594a95c565&id=cde3f820c1
Mark Bouchard
Mark Bouchard is the writer/co-creator of the graphic novellas LEAF PEEPERS and IT TOOK LUKE: Overworked & Underpaid (Oni Press, Oct 2022). They are also the editor/creator of the anthology EVERYTHING IS GOING WRONG: Comics On Punk & Mental Illness. Previously, they wrote satire for The Hard Times and Hard Drive. Mark lives in Chicago with their dog Juicebox. They enjoy hardcore, horror, and eating broccoli.
Twitter:
@barkmouchard
Website: www.barkmouchard.com
Instagram:
@barkmouchard
Maggie Lauren Brown
A Minnesota native, Maggie Lauren Brown graduated from the U of M – Twin Cities, specializing in Political Science and Creative Writing. She then, logically, chose beluga whales as coworkers, performing as a professional synchronized swimmer at SeaWorld in San Antonio, followed by her role in the acrobatic show, Le Reve, at the Wynn in Las Vegas. After that, Maggie elevated her performing skills to cater to the demanding audiences of her elementary and high school English students, to whom she read the most captivating novels she could find. Now, Maggie’s current starring role of “Mama” is perhaps the most important of all.
Maggie lives in The Woodlands, Texas, where she writes books for kids. Her debut picture book, JOY THE PANDACORN, released in 2020; her next picture book, THE POSTCARD PROJECT, releases in 2023. Maggie hopes to keep readers on the edges of their seats with her middle grade horror novels next.
Website: MaggieLaurenBrown.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ByMaggieBrown
Instagram: instagram.com/mermaid_maggie
TikTok: tiktok.com/@kidaroundwiththebrowns
Ernest Chambers
In a long career as writer, producer, and VP for TV and Film for Merv Griffin Entertainment, Ernest Chambers has produced, written or supervised over 1,000 hours of television, including 50 Specials, 8 series, 3 talk shows, 4 TV movies, one feature film and one stage musical. He has been nominated 11 times for an Emmy and 4 times for The Writers Guild Award. His productions have had 51 Emmy nominations.
His credits include the landmark “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”, the long-running syndicated series, “Dance Fever”, “The Danny Kaye Show”, “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, the “Dennis The Menace” feature film, “The Merv Griffin Show”. and Specials starring Sid Caesar, Frank Sinatra, Carol Channing, Alan King, Doris Day and Barry Manilow.
His memoir, “50 YEARS AMONG THE STARS—Cautionary True Tales From The Hollywood Killing Fields” is a treasury of behind-the-scenes stories about the many stars he has worked with as well as a guide to how to succeed and survive in Television.
He recently published a picture book for pre-schoolers “SMELVIS, THE TWO-SCENT SKUNK.”
He has homes in Los Angeles and The Dordogne region of France and carries three passports- US. Ireland and Switzerland.
Annette M. Clayton
Annette M. Clayton is a writer of kidlit with a Master's degree in Writing for Children and YA. Her debut picture book publishes in 2024 with Familius. She writes for the educational market with a focus on grades K-5, with six leveled-readers publishing soon. For the trade market, she writes picture books, both fiction and nonfiction, chapter books, and new adult.
Her likes include: hiking, anything with sugar, Disney World, and contracts. Her dislikes include: litter, vegetables, quicksand, and rejection letters.
Annette is thrilled to be represented by Jonathan Rosen.
Website: www.AnnetteMClayton.com
Twitter:
@AnnetteMClayton
Marina Cohen
Marina Cohen has a Master’s Degree in literature and is the author of several middle-grade books. Her novels, including THE INN BETWEEN, THE DOLL’S EYE, A BOX OF BONES, and SHADOW GRAVE, have been Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections and have been nominated for various awards in the US and Canada including, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the Rocky Mountain Book Award, the Pacific Northwest Library Association Children’s Choice Award, The Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award, The Sunburst Award, and the Ontario Library Association Silver Birch and Red Maple Awards. THE INN BETWEEN received a Kirkus starred review and was an Amazon Book of the Month. When she’s not teaching or writing Marina enjoys spending time with her family, baking gingerbread, searching for mysterious doors of all shapes and sizes, and pondering life’s great mysteries. To Learn more about Marina visit her website at www.marinacohen.com.
Twitter:
@marinacohen
Instagram:
@marinacohenbooks
TikTok:
@marinacohenbooks
Facebook:
Marina Cohen Books
Jennifer Cooper
Jennifer Cooper is a writer, educator, triathlete, wife, and mom of three. She lives in sunny Kelowna, B.C. Canada. Jennifer writes both fiction and nonfiction picture books. She loves heart, silliness, and rhyme in writing.
With over 18 years of professional experience in education and coaching, Jennifer enjoys teaching a variety of courses ranging from English to Health and Outdoor Education.
As an amateur athlete, Jennifer is passionate about health and fitness which finds its way into her writing at every turn. She qualified for the ITU World Championships of Triathlon in 2020/2021. Jennifer has a variety of health and fitness articles published as well as curriculum plans for children’s literature.
Jennifer is thrilled to be represented by the lovely Joyce Sweeney.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifererincooper/
Author Website: https://www.intheloo.ca/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jen_E_Cooper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.fricke.12/
Newsletter: https://www.intheloo.ca/newsletter
Stacey Corrigan
Stacey Corrigan is a second-grade teacher in Saginaw, MI and author of the picture book THE PENCIL EATER. She grew up in Elkton, MI and began writing for a local newspaper in high school. Stacey graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Elementary Education and earned an MAT in Early Childhood Education from Saginaw Valley State University.
Stacey lives in Michigan with her husband, two sons, and an adorable beagle named Sadie. Stacey is a member of SCBWI and Julie Hedlund’s 12 X 12 Picture Book Challenge. She was a PB Party Finalist in 2018 and a PB Party Honorable Mention in 2021 and 2022. Stacey is represented by Jonathan Rosen of The Seymour Agency.
You can find out more about her at StaceyCorrigan.com
Jessica L. Cozzi
Jessica L. Cozzi crafts swoon-worthy romances for teens to show that there is always love in the world, if you’re willing to find it. She is a publicist at William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, and is also a former YA book blogger. She has a BA in Creative Writing from Fordham University and an MFA in Young Adult Fiction Writing & Professional Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Her literary passion lies in Young Adult stories, including any and all contemporary romantic comedies. Through the stories she puts on bookstore shelves, she gives readers the chance to flip through the pages, fall in love, and find their inner hopeless romantic.
Author Twitter:
https://www.facebook.com/JessCozziWrites
Author Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jesscozziwrites/
Author Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/JessCozziWrites
Author website:
Author newsletter:
Stacy B. Davids
Stacy B. Davids, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who works as a school psychologist. She’s also a former special education teacher. Her confidence-building picture book, ANNIE’S PLAID SHIRT, won Silver in Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards. Her picture book, SIMON THE HUGGER, is a lighthearted story about consent, boundaries, and a lovable, huggable sloth. Stacy lives in Florida and loves cats, cookies, and chocolate.
Website:
Twitter:
@stacybdavids
Facebook:
Shutta Crum
Shutta Crum is bi-peninsular, (Michigan and Florida.) She is the author of three middle-grade novels and fifteen picture books, as well as many poems, magazine articles, and three poetry chapbooks for adults. Her books have made Bank Street College lists as well as state award and reading lists. THUNDER-BOOMER! was an ALA and a Smithsonian Magazine “Notable Book” of the year. WHEN YOU GET HERE (poems for adults) won a gold Royal Palm Literary Award, (FL). She is also the author of two nearly wordless books MINE! and UH-OH! (Alfred A. Knopf). MINE! made the Texas 2X2 list and was a Crystal Kite Award winner for the illustrator Patrice Barton. Of MINE! the N. Y. Times said, “a delightful example of the drama and emotion that a nearly wordless book can convey.” In 2005 she was invited to read at the White House Easter Egg Roll. In 2010 she was invited by the Dept. of Defense to present to children at bases in Japan. She blogs regularly for the Florida Writers Association and writes a column for the Florida State Poetry Association magazine Of Poets & Poetry. In addition, she publishes THE WORDSMITH’S PLAYGROUND, a newsletter for writers. Info: www.shutta.com.
Website:
Facebook:
Facebook.com/Shuttacrum
Twitter:
@Shutta
Instagram:
@Shuttacrum
Gabriele Davis
As a child, Gabriele longed to see families like hers reflected in the books she read. Now she gets to make that happen for other underrepresented readers. Gabriele holds a BA in English and an MA in magazine journalism. A former children’s magazine writer and editor, she has published many stories, articles, and puzzles for kids. She is dedicated to creating works that inspire children to laugh, love, discover their inner strength, and feel seen. Gabriele is the author of PEACHES (Abrams, May 7, 2024) and OUR JOYFUL NOISE (Atheneum, Fall 2024). She lives, writes, and bikes in northwestern Connecticut.
Twitter:
@GDavisBooks
Website:
www.gabrieledavis.com (under construction)
Amy Fellner Dominy
Amy Fellner Dominy is an MFA playwright and the award-winning author of nine books for children including young adult, middle grade, and picture books. Amy loves writing for children of all ages and is drawn to stories that celebrate kids who can be anyone and choose to be themselves. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and a cat who thinks she’s a dog.
Website:
Twitter:
@amydominy
Instagram:
@amydominy
Facebook:
Gina Detwiler
Gina Detwiler was planning to be a teacher but switched to writing so she didn’t have to get up so early in the morning. She’s the author of the Amazon bestselling YA supernatural Forlorn series, soon to be released in a 3-book bundle by Vinspire Publishing.
She also co-authored the bestselling middle-grade fantasy series The Prince Warriors with Priscilla Shirer. Her latest book is The Ultimate Bible Character Guide, published by LifeWay. She has three grown daughters and lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Steve and her dog Morey, who will never grow up.
Her aim in writing is to help make God real and relevant to young people who don’t always see a need for Him in their lives and who are more often attracted to the “dark side” of spirituality. “I saw my daughters devouring books like Twilight and Harry Potter and I realized that there’s a whole lot of supernatural content in the Bible that’s not only fascinating, it’s actually true. Why not write about it? That’s how the Forlorn series was born. I’m currently working on the fourth installment with no end in sight.”
Website: https://ginadetwiler.com/
Rebecca Donovan
Rebecca Donovan is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of the highly-acclaimed Young Adult trilogy, The Breathing Series, with novels: Reason to Breathe, Barely Breathing, and Out of Breath, along with her stand alone novel, What If.
LATEST RELEASE: THE CURSED SERIES (YA Suspense).
Rebecca is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and lives in a quiet town in Massachusetts with her son. Excited by all that makes life possible, she is a music addict, concert junkie, impulsive traveler, and is willing to try just about anything once.
Website: www.rebeccadonovan.com
Twitter: @beccadonovan
Instagram: @rebeccadonovanauthor
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4907787.Rebecca_Donovan
Steven dos Santos
Steven dos Santos is author of THE TORCH KEEPER novels, a Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic series featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Book One, THE CULLING, was named an American Library Association 2014 Rainbow List Top Ten Selection. Steven’s other series, DAGGER: THE DUST OPS, is a Young Adult Paranormal Espionage Adventure, also featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Steven graduated from Florida International University with a B.S. Degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications Television Broadcasting program and also has an MFA in Writing from Spalding University. He is an adjunct English Professor and a passionate advocate of LGBTQ+ rights.
Website: www.stevendossantos.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ stevendossantosauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevendosSantos
Carol Gordon Ekster
Carol Gordon Ekster was a passionate elementary school teacher for thirty-five years. Now retired, Carol is grateful that her writing allows her to continue communicating with children. She is the author of Before I Sleep: I Say Thank You which won 3rd place in the children’s category of the Catholic Press Association Book Awards and was also a finalist for the ACP Excellence in Publishing Awards 2016. Her picture book, You Know What?, came out first in Dutch with Clavis Books and the English version released 2017. It was a CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards Nominee for Talk (2018) and a finalist for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award in the New England region, 2018. The Korean language edition came out 2019. Some Daddies, illustrated by Javiera Maclean Alvarez released May 2022 with Beaming Books. Trucker Kid, illustrated by Russ Cox comes out spring 2023 with Capstone.
She’s a member of SCBWI, 12x12, The Writing Barn’s Courage to Create, and part of the group blog, WritersRumpus. When Carol is not in a critique group or at her computer she might be doing yoga or biking. She lives in Andover, Massachusetts with her husband Mark.
Website: https://carolgordonekster.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cekster
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolgordonekster/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cekster
Karyn Friedman- Everham
Karyn is the debut author of the rhyming picture book Otter Oughta Know (Scholastic, 2024).
From an early age, Karyn knew she loved school and the stories of childhood. Becoming a writer never crossed her mind—that was the business of gods who birthed fully formed worlds—what she wanted to be was a professional reader. When that job fell through, she became a teacher, which led her to the Head Start program and the Peace Corps. A few years later she briefly became a student of library science. In Children's Lit her professor gently read to the class. She sat on top of her desk, tiny feet dangling, granny glasses perched low, and spun tales into being. That's when Karyn knew she wanted to be on that desk sharing stories of her own with kids. Karyn writes picture books, middle grade novels, and poetry.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriedmanEverham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karyn_friedmaneverham/?hl=en
Lori Dubbin
Lori Dubbin is a writer and former early childhood educator. She enjoys researching and writing about people just outside the framework of history who have made extraordinary contributions to the world and who model kindness, compassion, and perseverance for young readers. When Lori isn’t researching or writing, she likes taking walks, solving crossword puzzles, and baking her family’s favorite oatmeal cookies. Her children’s picture book, Perfect Match, The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton, releasing on September 10, 2024, is a Junior Library Guild Selection for 2024.
Twitter/X:
@LoriDubbin
Website:
loridubbin.com
Ashlee Hashman
Ashlee Hashman is a children's author who is passionate about creating stories that entertain, inspire, and educate.
Her love of numbers prompted her to work as a math teacher, where she discovered how much she loves encouraging young people. Ashlee enjoys all the unique aspects of Midwest living with her husband and toddler. When she's not writing, you can usually find Ashlee giggling at her sister's chickens, rewatching the same two TV shows over and over again, or spending time with her family.
Website:
Tonnye Fletcher
Tonnye Fletcher learned to talk early, read early, and write early. And ever since, words have been as important as breathing. Tonnye is currently enjoying writing picture books that incorporate music, animals, nature, and intergenerational relationships with lots of humor and heart. She is active in SCBWI-Carolinas, and Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Picture Book Challenge. She is also involved with the NC Reading Association, presenting annually at their state reading conference about music, reading, and writing. She also leads her local council in many community activities promoting literacy.
Tonnye holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, and is a national board-certified teacher who is currently teaching K-2 music in southeastern NC. She brings together her love for reading, writing, teaching, and music with a multimedia blog series called PBJamz, where she spotlights picture books with musical connections. When she’s not doing teacherly, readerly, writerly, musical things, she also enjoys hanging out by the fire pit, snuggling with her kitty, cooking, learning about nature, and traveling with her husband, Shane. They live on a farm with extended family where faith, hope, and love reign supreme, with bits of chaos mixed in to keep things real.
Tonnye is super-excited to be on this author’s journey with the witty and whimsical Joyce Sweeney as her agent.
Twitter:
@tonnyef
Facebook:
@TWFauthor
Instagram:
@tonnyefletcher67
Website:
Steena Hernandez
Steena Hernandez resides in San Antonio, Texas with her family, and is a homeschool mother of two energetic children. Her background includes performance in musical theatre, with a BFA from Texas Tech University. She has taught Theatre Arts in high school, middle school, and has always been a storyteller at heart. An active member of SCBWI and Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, Steena has also taken classes at Storyteller Academy, The Writing Barn, and The Writers’ Loft. She was a 2022 winner of Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words, and has stories published in Little Thoughts Press and Highlights High Five Magazines. She was chosen as a 2022 Las Musas mentee, and is now a Las Musas member. Her debut picture book, LUPITA’S BROWN BALLET SLIPPERS, will be released with Beaming Books in the Fall of 2024. Most days you can find her curled up in a cozy spot reading with her children.
Twitter:
@HernandezSteena
Website:
steenahernandez.com
Jason Hendrickson
Jason Hendrickson has been drawing since his crayons were warmed up on his mother’s walls as a child. With a BFA in Graphic Design and a 30-year career in advertising and publishing design under his belt, Jason turned his sights toward children’s book illustration. He loves to tell stories from a unique visual perspective and looks to delight the reader with every page turn. He works both traditionally and digitally and looks forward to making bigger and better stories for everyone to enjoy!
Jason is also the author of BOOK! coming out this fall from POW! Kids Books.
Instagram: @hendricksoncreative
Twitter:
@jasondonnah
Website:
jasonhendrickson.com
Spencer Hyde
Spencer Hyde is the author of Waiting for Fitz and What the Other Three Don’t Know. Stories have a way of changing lives—Spencer learned that the first time he picked up a Tom Stoppard play and realized words can nudge the world and build bridges to hope. He is currently an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University. Spencer and his wife, Brittany, are the parents of four children. His next novel is about the thousands of unexploded bombs from the Second World War.
Twitter:
@Spencer_Hyde
Instagram:
@spencerhyde
Website: http://spencer-hyde.com/
T.P. Jagger
T. P. Jagger is an elementary teacher turned reading specialist turned college professor turned small-business owner and children’s author. His debut middle-grade novel, Hide and GEEK (Hide and GEEK #1) was named to the ABA Indies Introduce List as a Top 10 Children’s Debut for Winter/Spring 2022, as well as to the ABA Indies Next List. The Treasure Test (Hide and GEEK #2) releases in early 2023.
T. P. is not a professional magician, although he can make both pizza and chocolate disappear. He and his family live in the Pacific Northwest with two dogs and an evil, ankle-biting cat. Neither the dogs nor the cat knows how to write. But the cat will never admit it.
Website:
Facebook:
TP Jagger
Instagram:
@tpjagger
Peggy Robbins Janousky
Peggy Robbins Janousky was born in New York City, but spent the rest of her childhood dreaming of becoming a country girl. She now lives in a small town in Florida where chickens are protected citizens and sandhill cranes wander the streets.
Peggy's writing is just as quirky as the town that she lives in. She is especially drawn to humorous picture books as well as all forms of poetry. Much to the disgust of her family, Peggy naturally thinks in verse. It is a habit that she does not plan on breaking.
Peggy holds a master's degree in education and has taught on all levels- preschool through college. She has a diverse background in international student affairs, special education, as well as parenting and cross cultural education. Her dream is to combine her educational background with her writing, to help make a difference in a child's life.
To learn more about Peggy, please visit her at PeggyinPrint.com.
Joni Klein-Higger
Joni Klein-Higger is an award-winning children’s book author, songwriter and musical theater playwright. Barnyard Bubbe’s Hanukkah,(Kar-Ben Publishing, 2019,) a board book Joni co-wrote with Barbara Sharf, was a #1 Amazon Best Seller and made The Washington Post Top Ten Holiday Books list. Her middle grade novel, Coby Ryan Harris is Officially Fat, won a Children’s Literary Classics Gold Award, and her picture book, Rainbow of Friendship, is the recipient of the 2015 Creative Child Magazine Book of the Year Award. Joni’s songs have been recorded by various artists, have been featured in motion pictures, and her children’s songs and musicals can be frequently heard ringing throughout the halls of preschools, elementary schools and middle schools across the country.
Website:
Twitter:
Joni Klein-Higger@KleinHigger
Facebook:
Joni Klein-Higger Books
Shachi Kaushik
Shachi Kaushik, the author of "Diwali In My New Home," is a children's content enthusiast with a passion for reading, writing, and creating captivating experiences for young minds.
Monthly, Shachi writes in the column 'The Picture Book World,' a standout feature in the Austin South Asian journal. Driven by a passion for cultural diversity, her focus is on exploring and sharing new picture books with the community.
Shachi is the imaginative force behind 'SmartyHathy,' a downloadable activity book for children that has become a go-to resource for parents seeking interactive and educational content.
On the production side, Shachi hosts and manages the YouTube Channel ‘Happy Hindi Learners’, providing a dedicated space for parents teaching their children Hindi.
Having made significant contributions to animation production, Shachi has worked as a production coordinator on major YouTube Original animated projects, showcasing her dedication to being a part of creating meaningful content for young audiences.
Her debut ‘Diwali In My New Home’ has received accolades and praise worldwide. The book has been named a 2022 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards finalist in the Picture Books, Early Reader category! And is the Winner of The Book Fest Awards in the Children’s Diversity - Multicultural category and the 2024 Southern California Book Festival winner. The book has also been featured in the Best Product Magazine and on the bookshelf of a well-known Canadian political commentator, Keith Baldrey, at Global News.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shachi-kaushik/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KaushikShachi
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KaushikShachi
YouTube Channel:
Elaine Kiely Kearns
Elaine Kiely Kearns is a picture book and middle-grade author and the founder of the children's writing website, KidLit411. Armed with a master's degree in Education and working from her home office, she spends her time perusing the internet for golden nuggets of information about children's writing and creating her own stories. Her debut picture book, Noah Noasaurus, illustrated by Colin Jack (Albert Whitman) published in April 2019. She lives in New York with her husband, daughters, and a menagerie of animals. She is represented by Jonathan Rosen of the Seymour Agency.
Websites:
Twitter:
Kathy Kelly
Kathy Kelly is a picture book author who coaxes words into stories for kids to encourage curiosity, laughter, dreaming, and connection. Her stories are heartfelt, humorous, lyrical and whimsical. She is a member of SCBWI, the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge, and Inked Voices.
She volunteers as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for kids and enjoys travel (especially to National Parks), musical theatre, board games, and any time with her grandkids.
Kathy lives in Central PA with her husband and all the fictional animals who fill her stories.
She is represented by Lynnette Novak.
Website:
https://kathykellyauthor.com (Coming soon)
Twitter:
Fred Koehler
Fred Koehler is an artist and writer whose real-life misadventures include sunken boats, shark encounters, and getting caught in a hurricane. Whether free diving in the Gulf of Mexico or backpacking across Africa, Fred's sense of adventure and awe of nature overflow into his characters' stories. He won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award for his illustrations for One Day, The End.
Fred is passionate about encouraging young artists, promoting unity, and conserving our environment. He lives in Florida with his wife, kids, and a rescue dog named Cheerio Mutt-Face McChubbybutt.
Website:
Melissa Landers
Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn't afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati and writes adult contemporary romance as Macy Beckett.
![Koffsky head shot[1].jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/29589e_08be7fca6dbd451d8eeaa0c43a8da962~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_54,h_72,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Koffsky%20head%20shot%5B1%5D.jpeg)
Ann D. Koffsky
Ann D. Koffsky is the author and illustrator of more than forty books for kids including What’s In Tuli’s Box?, Sheep Says Shalom, the Kayla & Kugel series and Judah Maccabee Goes to the Doctor. She has also collaborated with Temple Grandin to create the children’s adaptation of Grandin’s book, Visual Thinking. Several of her books have been PJ library selections, and her book Noah’s Swimathon received a Sydney Taylor notable designation from the Association of Jewish Libraries. She is the recipient of the PJ Library Visual storyteller fellowship.
Ann has also illustrated 100+ greeting cards and products for companies like Hallmark Cards, Costco and Great Arrow Graphics.
Previously, she was an editor and art director at Behrman House Publishers and an adjunct professor of art at Yeshiva University.
Ann lives on Long Island, NY with her family. You can see more of her work at www.annkoffsky.com.
Website:
Facebook:
Art by Ann
Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest:
@JewishArtbyAnn
Lorie Langdon
Lorie Langdon is an Amazon best-selling author of YA novels such as; the Doon Series, Gilt Hollow, and Olivia Twist, which has received a starred review from Booklist Magazine and was picked up by Target Stores across the nation. She is an international speaker who has been featured on such media outlets as; USAToday.com, NPR Radio, EntertainmentWeekly.com, RedbookMagazine.com, and Girl’s Life Magazine. Chapters Interactive Stories developed her fantasy series into a ‘choose your own ending’ mobile video game.
And in 2019, Olivia Twist was contracted for film development by Lonetree Entertainment. Lorie is a self-professed Wonder Woman Wannabe who lives in Ohio with her husband and two superhero obsessed teenage sons.
Website:
Alice Lin
Alice Lin started dreaming up stories in sixth grade and loves to get lost in other people’s imagination. She was a teen librarian for six years before publishing her debut novel, Fireworks. Her sophomore novel, Love Points to You, will be released in spring 2025.
Website:
Instagram:
@miss_alicelin
Twitter:
@miss_bopeeps
Heather Macht
Heather Macht is the author of fifteen books for young readers, including THE MUTANT CRITTER SITTER, a six-book chapter book series featuring #girlpower, responsibility, and science-filled fun (ABDO, Fall 2024), THE WOODLOT MONSTER MYSTERIES, a six-book chapter book series featuring #girlpower, teamwork, friendship, and uncommon monsters (ABDO, Spring 2023), YOU MAY JUST BE A DINOSAUR, a rhyming picture book with STEM facts included (Pelican, 2015), & more! She is an active children’s author who has been creating stories, particularly about monsters and odd creatures, since the third grade.
Macht earned her degree in fine arts from Florida State College at Jacksonville and currently holds a career as an I.T. professional and is a full-time mom. Macht is the owner of SeasonsOfKidLit.com, a blog she designed & created in October 2022 that already has a following of 700+ members (and growing each day!). Macht lives with her family in sunny Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and enjoys saving turtles from busy roads, hunting for sharks’ teeth, and watching scary movies in her spare time.
Heather Macht is open for IEP and Work for Hire writing! She loves working with publishers and editors on projects.
Personal Website: www.heathermacht.com
Heather’s Blog/Platform: www.seasonsofkidlit.com
Twitter:
@AuthorHMacht
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherauthormacht/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/HMauthor
Marjorie Maddox
Professor of English at Lock Haven University, Marjorie Maddox has published 13 collections of poetry—including Transplant, Transport, Transubstantiation (Yellowglen Prize); Begin with a Question (International Book Awards Winner), and Heart Speaks, Is Spoken For, an ekphrastic collaboration with photographer Karen Elias—the prose collection What She Was Saying; 4 children’s and YA books—including Inside Out: Poems on Writing and Reading Poems with Insider Exercises (Finalist International Book Awards), A Crossing of Zebras: Animal Packs in Poetry; I’m Feeling Blue, Too! (2021 NCTE Notable Poetry Book), and Rules of the Game: Baseball Poems. She is the great-grandniece of Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who helped break the color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson to Major League Baseball.
In addition, Marjorie is co-editor with Jerry Wemple of Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania (PSU Press) and the forthcoming Keystone: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania. In the Museum of My Daughter’s Mind—her ekphrastic collection based on 18 paintings by Anna Lee Hafer (www.hafer.work ) + work by Margaret Munz-Losch, Greg Mort, and others—is forthcoming. Assistant editor of Presence and chair of the 2020 Lee Bennett Hopkins Children’s Poetry Book Award, she presents worldwide. Please see www.marjoriemaddox.com
Bethany Mangle
Bethany Mangle is an author of young adult contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, PREPPED, will be published in spring 2021 by Margaret K. McElderry Books. She lives and writes in Mississippi. She can be found online at
www.bethanymangle.com or on Twitter as @bethanymangle.
Kristi Mahoney
Kristi Mahoney is a picture book author currently living outside of Boston, MA with her husband, son, daughter, and six fur-family members. She is a member of Boston Author’s Club, SCBWI, 12x12 Picture Books, and a regular contributor to 24 Carrot Writing. Kristi loves animals of all kinds so it’s not surprising they’re a big part of her writing. She also cannot pass up a beautiful sunset, is never without a book, and believes life is better with a bit of laughter. Her debut picture book, ALPACAS MAKE TERRIBLE LIBRARIANS (Gnome Road Publishing) will be released in September 2024.
Website: https://www.kristimahoneybooks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristimahoneybooks/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/kristi_mahoney
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kristi-Mahoney-Books/100086319960933/
Lynne Marie
Lynne Marie is the author of HEDGEHOG GOES TO KINDERGARTEN - illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic 2011), HEDGEHOG's 100th DAY OF SCHOOL (Scholastic 2017) and THE STAR OF THE CHRISTMAS PLAY - both illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books 2018), MOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE SCARES - illustrated by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling 2019 and Scholastic 2019), and a nonfiction picture book, LET’S EAT - MEALTIME AROUND THE WORLD - illustrated by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books 2019) and AMERICAN PIE - illustrated by Dea Lenihan (Dancing Flamingo Press, 2022). When she’s not observing the bees and enjoying honey-tasting, she lives on a lake in South Florida with her family, a Schipperke named Anakin and several resident water birds. You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com.
PJ McIlvaine
PJ McIlvaine is a prolific author/screenwriter/writer/ journalist.
PJ is the author of the Amazon best-selling VIOLET YORKE, GILDED GIRL: GHOSTS IN THE CLOSET (Darkstroke Books, 2022), an MG supernatural historical mystery adventure
about a poor little rich girl who sees ghosts in 1912 NYC. PJ’s debut picture book LITTLE LENA AND THE BIG TABLE (Big Belly Book Co., 2019), with illustrations by Leila Nabih, is about a determined little girl who wants her place at the grown-up table.
In 2023, PJ has A GOOD MAN, a gritty contemporary adult psych thriller with Bloodhound Books, and THE CONUNDRUM OF CHARLEMAGNE CROSSE, a YA alternate history set in Victorian London with Orange Blossom Books. In 2024-2027, PJ has a series of Creature Feature Books with Oghma Creative Media.
PJ is a co-host of #PBPitch, the premiere pitch party for picture book creators. She’s been
published in many outlets including The New York Times and Newsday. PJ also does interviews for The Children’s Book Insider newsletter. Also, her Showtime original movie MY HORRIBLE YEAR with Mimi Rogers, Karen Allen, and Eric Stoltz was nominated for a Daytime Emmy.
PJ lives in Eastern Long Island with her family.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pj.mcilvaine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PJMcIlvaine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pjmcilvaine/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pjmacwriter?lang=en
Website: https://pjmacwriter.com/
Becca McMurdie
Becca is inspired by real-life successes in wildlife rehabilitation and ecosystem revival. She writes fiction
and non-fiction picture books that feature animal rescues, rainforests, and urban wildlife.
During the day, she is an elementary school principal in New York City. As an educator, helping kids discover books they love is one of her favorite things to do. If she gets them hooked on a series, even better! As an author, she writes to inspire young readers to care for our planet and for each other.
When she is not at school, or at home writing or researching a new story, she journeys off to beaches, mountains and rainforests any chance she gets. Originally from Takoma Park, Maryland, she has lived in
Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica.
Her upcoming books include BUILDING A BEAK: HOW AN INJURED TOUCAN INSPIRED THE
WORLD, releasing with Page Street Kids in 2024, and CONGA, WILD AND FREE: A HOWLER
MONKEY’S TRIUMPHANT RESCUE, releasing with Page Street Kids in 2025.
She is represented by Joyce Sweeney.
Instagram:
@BeccaMcMurdieBooks
Twitter:
@BeccaMcMurdie
Website: www.beccamcmurdie.com
Madhuri Messenger
Madhuri writes punny picture books, magic-filled middle-grade, and light-hearted women’s fiction. She lives in rainy Oregon with her husband, three children, and a scaredy-dog. Her manuscripts showcase spunky South Asian characters who share bits of Indian culture.
She has an enduring love of learning. Madhuri attended Wellesley College, Yale University, Harvard Law School, and the University of California Berkeley. Along the way she collected a bachelor of arts, two masters degrees, and a juris doctorate. She worked at a top-tier law firm, at human rights non-profits, and in academia, before figuring out she was happiest writing fiction.
Madhuri received a 12 x 12 scholarship (2023), a We Need Diverse Books Middle Grade Mentorship (2022), the Yuyi Morales Merit Scholarship from Children’s Book Academy (2021), honorable mention in the Oregon Writers Colony Writing Contest (2018), and was selected as a PBParty Finalist (2022). She is an active member of Inked Voices and Yale Women Writers Group and is supported by amazing critique partners.
When she is not writing or managing the schedules of her very active children, she reads. And, if no one is around, she eats cake and sings off-key.
Twitter:
@having__hope
Website:
coming soon
Anne Marie Meyers
Ann Marie Meyers grew up in Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, daughter and two cats. She has a degree in languages and translates legal and technical documents from French and Spanish into English. In addition to being an active member of SCBWI, she is one of the organizers for SCBWI Canada East’s membership ‘Get Togethers’ in the Toronto area.
Although Ann Marie initially started writing for adults, when her daughter was born she kept getting ideas for stories that would appeal to kids. Her first children’s book, a middle grade fantasy entitled Up In The Air, was an Amazon best seller. Ann Marie has also won grants from the Toronto Arts Council, The Ontario Arts Council and Recommender Grants associated with the Toronto Arts Council for two of her Works In Progress.
Jill Ross Nadler
Jill Ross Nadler is the author of the picture book SUCH A LIBRARY!, which School Library Journal called “an absolute delight.” She’s also written ten leveled readers for Heinemann Publishing (a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), and four independently published books as part of an online program called KINDLY EVER AFTER which promotes SEL through stories and creativity. After graduating from the University of Buffalo with a degree in theater, Jill became a professional storyteller, children’s TV host, and producer, earning an Emmy Award for outstanding children’s special. She’s written and hosted programs for the Travel Channel, Scholastic Bookfairs, and the International Reading Association.
For over fifteen years, Jill has been the CEO and Chief Storyologist at Page Turner Adventures, a children’s media company that produces online programming for thousands of libraries, schools, and families around the world. Every month, her Storyology Newsletter, which focuses on literacy and creativity, is distributed to over 7,000 teachers, librarians, and parents nationwide. When she’s not writing or producing, Jill can be found curled up with a good book, visiting weird museums, or creating robots out of Altoid tins.
Websites:
JillRossNadler.com and PageTurnerAdventures.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jill.nadler.3/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillrossnadler/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rileyroam/_saved/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-ross-nadler-5248127/
Nora Nickum
Nora Nickum is the Senior Ocean Policy Manager at the Seattle Aquarium. She also writes books for children, often celebrating biodiversity and exploring STEM topics, as well as middle-grade mysteries.
Nora is the author of the middle-grade nonfiction book SUPERPOD: SAVING THE ENDANGERED ORCAS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST (Chicago Review Press, April 2023, a Junior Library Guild gold standard selection). Her debut nonfiction picture book, THIS BOOK IS FULL OF HOLES (Peachtree, March 2024), explores intriguing holes from the deep to the shallow, the mysterious to the maddeningly familiar, which are entry points into disciplines from engineering and geology to ecology and music. Two other forthcoming nonfiction picture books are THIS BOOK BUBBLES OVER (Peachtree, Spring 2025) and TWELVE DARING GRAYS (Candlewick, Spring 2026).
Nora has had multiple stories published in Cricket, Ladybug, and The School Magazine, as well as several science-related articles in Muse. She is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Website:
Twitter:
@noranickumbooks
Instagram:
@noranickumbooks
David Neilsen
David Neilsen is the author of Middle Grade horror/comic/fantasies. His debut novel, Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, was named an Editor’s Pick by Amazon, won the Silver Falchion Award for Best YA/Tween Horror or Fantasy of 2017, and was a Semifinalist for Best Middle Grade / Children’s Book in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. He is also the author of Beyond the Doors, Lillian Lovecraft and the Harmless Horrors, and The Chronicles of the Deadly Dead.
Before turning to slightly-creepy children’s literature, David spent a dozen years working as a writer in Hollywood, culminating in optioning a pilot to 20th Century Fox (that went nowhere), and penning the screenplay for the Straight-to-DVD film “The Eliminator” (stream it, he dares you).
Website:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidneilsenauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.david.neilsen/
Jyothi Nookula
Jyothi is a South East Asian writer and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She leads product management at a major software company and works on artificial intelligence and machine learning. She was selected among the top 80 upcoming world leaders and was trained on exponential technologies at Singularity University. She earned a full scholarship to work on a project at Mars Desert Research Station. She was also featured by Amazon science as one of the four women making machine learning accessible.
Jyothi always loved picture books but as a child she was disheartened when she could not find books that represented her. When her daughter was born in 2019, she was determined to provide her child with mirrors and windows to her rich Indian heritage. Her picture books focus on topics that bring the world closer for our children.
In her spare time, Jyothi loves to dance Kuchipudi, a traditional classical dance of India and paint using oil and acrylic mediums.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JyothiWrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jyothi.nookula/
Website:
Rachel Packer
Rachel holds an M.S.W from Yeshiva University along with multiple certifications in Exercise Nutrition. She became a popular freelance nutrition writer when her son was diagnosed with severe food allergies in 2008.
Her articles and experiences pertaining to food allergy/autoimmune management, and recipes have been featured in local, national magazines such as Martha Stewart Whole Living, Allergic Living, Hadassah magazine, and the Washington Post. She has appeared as a food allergy advocate on multiple podcasts and has been published in numerous web publications such as Kveller, Exploring Judaism and Atlanta Parent. She has appeared on multiple news and radio outlets like WTOP, NBC news, Montgomery Cable TV as a food allergy coach, parent and advocate. She was a guest parent speaker at the FDA Advisory Committee regarding the importance of groundbreaking OIT therapies and has lobbied in Congress for Crohn’s awareness.
Her first children’s picture book Sky High Sukkah was published in Fall, 2016 through Apples and Honey Press (Behrman House Publishing) and was also a P.J. Library book selection. Rachel’s wellness company, (MatzoBall Fitness-Because…You Can Eat Healthy and Still Have a Ball!) focuses on wellness learning seminars, presentations and cooking demos.
Website:
Facebook:
@RachelOrnsteinPacker-Writer
Facebook:
@matzoballfitness.com
Facebook:
@Rachel Ornstein Packer
Instagram:
@matzoballfitness
TikTok:
@matzoballfitness
Khushboo Patel
Khushboo Patel grew up in Baroda (a not-so-small city in India), earned a law degree in Mumbai and a master’s degree at Oxford University, moved to Florida to marry her childhood friend, gave up her law career, started a business, and sold it a few years ago to start her two forever adventures – motherhood and writing for children - where she oscillates between finding and losing herself.
She writes emotional picture books filled with lyricism and heart and aspires to one day finish writing the novel of her heart. The desire for a more empathetic world informs and underlines everything she writes.
She likes all books but loves lyrical picture books and coming-of-age stories about ‘ordinary’
people.
Being an author has been a childhood dream and she’s thrilled to be pursuing it with Joyce Sweeney by her side.
Twitter:
@Khushboo1720
Instagram:
@khushboo.patel.1720
Website:
Akana Phénix
Akana Phenix is a Harvard alum and screenwriter. THE EMPIRE WARS is her debut fantasy novel. As a nostalgic 2000s kid, she currently writes fantasy-science fiction, romance, dystopian, and thrillers. She resides in the United States.
Twitter:
@akanaphenix
Tik Tok:
@akanaphenix
Instagram:
@akanaphenix
Facebook:
@akanaphenix
Nancy Roe Pimm
Nancy Roe Pimm is a public speaker and an award-winning author of many books and articles for children, including the picture book Fly, Girl, Fly! and several middle-grade and young adult biographies. The State Library of Ohio named Nancy as a “Choose to Read Ohio” author and recognized her work by including her on the Ohio Literary map along with sixty-eight authors who won major literary awards. Five of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and her nonfiction book Colo’s Story was chosen to represent the state of Ohio at the National Book Festival in Washington D.C.
Nancy has served on faculty at SCBWI conferences, taught narrative nonfiction at the Thurber House in Columbus, and is a Rate Your Story judge. She teaches in-person and virtual writing workshops, and she enjoys visiting schools and organizations to encourage the next generation to explore all possibilities, believe in their dreams, and never give up. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Nancy now resides with her husband Ed, who is a retired NASCAR and Indy Car driver. They have three daughters and two grandsons, and they share their Plain City, Ohio home with two cattle dogs, one cat, and a snake.
Twitter:
@Nancyroepimm
Instagram:
@pimmnancyroe
Facebook:
Nancy Roe Pimm
LinkedIn:
@NancyRoePimm
Website: www.nancyroepimm.com
Aixa Pérez-Prado
Aixa Pérez-Prado is a native of Argentina who immigrated to the United States as a small child. She is a writer, illustrator, translator and professor at Florida International University with a PhD in Social Science and Education. Aixa has lived in Argentina, the U.S., Costa Rica, Morocco and Brazil, and draws inspiration for her stories and illustrations from these diverse locations. Aixa has published two academic books on teaching through critical and creative thinking strategies and created the cover art for both texts. Her current passion is writing and illustrating picture books aimed at giving diverse children a chance to see their multilayered identities represented through stories that resonate with heart and humor.
Aixa writes in both Spanish and English and enjoys mixing languages in her prose. Similarly, she loves illustrating by employing different techniques in a whimsical style including watercolor, acrylic, ink, and digital. She especially enjoys combining all of these elements through collage. Aixa has been a finalist in several writing and illustration contests including two honorable mentions in Florida SCBWI’s Rising Kite Contest, and is the KidLit 411 banner illustrator for November 2021. Aixa is represented by Joyce Sweeney.
Website:
aixaperezprado.com
Twitter:
@professoraixa
Instagram: aixasdoodlesandbooks
Candace Powell
Candace (Ganger) Powell is a former editor for sites like Newsweek & The Dodo. She previously worked as Senior Entertainment Writer for Showbiz Cheat Sheet and is a contributing writer for TODAY Show, Teen Vogue, Romper, Bustle, TWLOHA, Hello Giggle & more with thousands of bylines to her name.
Her YA novels, The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash and Six Goodbyes We Never Said are available wherever books are sold. She's also a contributor to the YA mental health anthology, Life Inside My Mind.
Aside from having past lives as a singer, nanotechnology website editor, and world’s worst* vacuum sales rep, Candace has previously ghostwritten for best-selling fiction and award-winning nonfiction authors alike.
Candace — aka Candyland — has a severe Milky Way latte addiction and loves running in cemeteries among her favorite people — the dead.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_only_candyland/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/candylandpowell
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@thestorybabe
Website:
Stacie Ramey
Stacie Ramey is the author of The Sister Pact, a contemporary realistic Young Adult novel which was named a YALSA 2016 Popular Paperback and a 2015 PSLA Top 40. Her sophomore novel, The Homecoming was awarded a Florida Book Award. Kirkus called her third book, The Secrets We Bury " A sensitive, funny, and sometimes awkwardly romantic story of survival and self-awareness" and also named it to its list of 13 YA Books Both You and Your Teen Will Enjoy. It’s My Life is about a high school junior with cerebral palsy, who is on the verge of giving up on herself until she learns that her childhood crush has moved back to town. When Stacie’s not writing, she engages in Netflix wars with her children or beats her husband in Scrabble, all while watching the Florida Gators and Penn State Nittany Lions play (Go Gators).
Kiley Roache
Kiley Roache is the author of FRAT GIRL and THE DATING GAME, two young adult novels published by Inkyard Press, a division of HarperCollins. Kiley grew up in the suburbs outside Chicago, and has been writing since the 7th grade. She signed with a literary agent days before graduating high school.
She is a graduate of Stanford University where she studied Political Science. She authored both her books while she was still a college student, and once got up early to look at copyedits before painting her face for a tailgate.
Kiley has also worked as a journalist, and her bylines are in The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Chicago Tribune’s teen publication The Mash, among others. She holds a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. In 2018, she wrote an op-ed for The New York Times’s “On Campus” series entitled “The Future of Frats” arguing that fraternities should go co-ed. It was the lead story in the Times’s “The Edit” newsletter that week.
She now lives in New York City, where she is writing her third novel and running (very slowly) in Central Park.
Lisa Brown Roberts
Lisa Brown Roberts is the award-winning author of The Bookworm Crush, The Replacement Crush, and more. Her novels—featuring adorkable teens navigating family, friendship, and first love—have earned praise from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and the School Library Journal. Her novel Spies, Lies, and Allies was selected by the Denver BookBar for their Local-to-Local program, which distributes books by local authors to community schools to encourage summer reading.
Lisa has presented at the Colorado Teen Literature Conference, Tattered Cover Teen Book Con, Denver BookBar Children’s BookFest, Denver Comic Con, SHINE Summit Day of Empowerment and Education for Young Women, Letters and Lines SCBWI conference, and the Northern Colorado Writers Conference. Lisa lives in Colorado with her family and loves to hear from readers.
Website: www.lisabrownroberts.com
Twitter: Twitter.com/LBrownRoberts
Instagram: Instagram.com/LisaBrownRoberts
Facebook: Facebook.com/authorLisaBrownRoberts
Jonathan Rosen
Jonathan Rosen is a transplanted New Yorker, who now lives with his family and rescue dog, Parker, in sunny, South Florida. When not writing, he can be found with his family, most likely watching Impractical Jokers. Jonathan is proud to be of Mexican-American descent, although neither country has been really willing to accept responsibility. He is the author of Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies, and its sequel, From Sunset Till Sunrise.
He is an administrator of FromtheMixedUpFiles.Com, a site devoted to MG books, and a founding member of SpookyMG.com, a site devoted to spooky middle grade. Jonathan is proud of the fact that between him and JK Rowling, they have more followers on Twitter than any other two Middle Grade authors combined.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JRosen18
Twitter: https://twitter.com/houseofrosen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofrosen/
D.R. Rosensteel
Hi. My name is D.R. Rosensteel.
I write clean YA fantasy action-adventure stories wrapped around real teen issues like bullying, drug abuse, and peer pressure. There may be a hint of romance or a touch of horror, but there will always be action, action action!
My message to kids who feel different—stick together. We have the rest of the world outnumbered.
My message to parents—pay attention. The evils of bullying, drug abuse, and peer pressure are real, and our kids don’t always talk about it. Don’t be a helicopter, but never be afraid to be a parent. Our kids need our guidance and our love. It’s great that they have friends who have their backs, but it’s better that they know you do.
My message to Psi Fighters—Vanquish Evil, Do Right, Protect the Innocent!
Website:
Melissa Roske
Melissa Roske is a writer of contemporary middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. In London she landed a job as an advice columnist for Just Seventeen magazine, where she answered hundreds of letters from readers each week. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest (just the funny ones), and received certification as a life coach from NYU.
In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge, 2017), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman & Company). An active blogger for the popular MG website, From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle-grade Authors, Melissa lives in Manhattan with her husband, daughter, and the occasional dust bunny.
Website: http://www.melissaroske.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissaRoske
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaRoskeAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melroske/
Allison Rozo
Allison Rozo is a picture book writer and artist. She writes bilingual stories with her Colombian native husband Rafael Rozo, to weave together their two cultures, as well as stories in English. She creates illustrations, designs t-shirts, and paints portraits. She is represented by literary agent Elisa Houot with The Seymour Agency.
Allison received her BFA from Miami University of Ohio in the History of Art and Architecture and she studied Graphic Design at Harrington College of Design in Chicago. She attended Loyola University Chicago, receiving her Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and was a litigation paralegal at Baker & McKenzie LLP.
Allison can be found on Twitter @allison_rozo and on Instagram @allisonrozo.
Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Karen Rostoker-Gruber is a multi-award-winning author of many picture books with hundreds of thousands of copies sold. Farmer Kobi's Hanukkah Match, was named a National Jewish Book Award Finalist. Her books Bandit (Marshall Cavendish 2008), Bandit's Surprise (Marshall Cavendish 2010), and Ferret Fun (Marshall Cavendish 2011) all received starred reviews in School Library Journal; Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo (Dial 2004) and Bandit were both International Reading Association Children's Book Council Children's Choices Award recipients. Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo and Ferret Fun were nominated for the Missouri Show Me Award; Bandit was nominated for the South Carolina Book Award; and Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo was a Dollywood Foundation selection two years in a row (in 2007 the Dollywood Foundation bought 73,579 copies and in 2008 it bought 88,996 copies).
Karen's book, Maddie the Mitzvah Clown, published by Apples & Honey Press, was named a PJ Library book selection in July of 2017, which went out to 21,000 4-year-olds and 27,700 children in 2020. Her two latest books came out in 2020: A Crowded Farmhouse Folktale (Albert Whitman) and Happy Birthday, Trees (KarBen), which is also a PJ Library Selection and went out to 29,000 children in 2021.
Website:
http://www.karenrostoker-gruber.com
Twitter:
@karenrostoker
LinkedIn:
Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Instagram:
@rostokergruber
Facebook:
Karen Rostoker-gruber
Rafael Rozo
Rafael Rozo is a native of Colombia who immigrated to the United States. He and his wife, Allison Rozo, write bilingual English and Spanish picture books to weave together his Hispanic and American cultures. He is proud to create books that represent himself and his two children.
Rafael graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia with a degree in Information Systems, Computer Science. He received a master’s degree in Business Administration from Universidad de La Salle. Rafael is the co-owner of the Quimera Group, a US based consultancy firm.
Erin Danielle Russell
Erin Danielle Russell is the author of How to Trick the Tooth Fairy (Aladdin) and Seoul Food (coming spring 2024, Viking), and coauthor of eight books in the New York Times bestselling children’s series, Dork Diaries. Erin started her creative career as an award-winning cartoonist for the University of Michigan’s newspaper, The Michigan Daily, and then dove into the exciting world of children’s books and never looked back. When she’s not daydreaming or writing, she’s drawing, cooking, playing Dungeons & Dragons, or geeking out over fantasy books and tv shows. Erin lives in Des Moines, Iowa with her husband, Jacob, and her pet teddy bear, Stanley.
Twitter:
@ErinDRussell
Instagram:
@erindrussell
Facebook:
Erin Danielle Russell
TikTok:
@erindrussell
Annette Schottenfeld
Annette Schottenfeld is the author of OBI’S MUD BATH (Clear Fork Publishing) and NOT SO FAST, MAX: A Rosh Hashanah Visit with Grandma (Kalaniot Books). She is passionate about writing for children, hip-hop dance, and environmental issues, believing all have the power to change lives. OBI’S MUD BATH is partnered with Water.org, an organization which brings safe water and sanitation to families around the world.
Annette speaks on author panels and enjoys interacting with young readers. When children pick up her books, she hopes they find themselves on a journey with new friends and positive takeaways.
A registered dietitian, with her degree from Syracuse University, Annette has also written professionally on the topics of nutrition, health, and fitness. Born a Jersey girl, she currently lives with her family in New York.
Photo by Andrew Werner.
Website:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/nettschott
Facebook:
René Saldaña
René Saldaña, Jr. is the author of various books for children and young adults, among them The Jumping Tree(2001), The Whole Sky Full of Stars (Wendy Lamb Books, 2007), A Good Long Way (Piñata Books, 2010), and the bilingual Mickey Rangel mystery series (Piñata Books). He also edited I SING : THE BODY, an anthology of young adult poems on body image (Flowersong Press, 2021). He is a professor of Language, Diversity & Literacy Studies at Texas Tech University, where he teaches children's and adolescent literature, classes on diversity in education, and various literacy courses. His poems have appeared in English Journal, The AMAE Journal, The Poetry Friday Anthology of Celebrations, Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican In America, Cutthroat, and The Big Windows Review.
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley of Deep South Texas, he draws his inspiration for his stories from his Borderlands and Mexican American upbringing.
He is represented by Joyce Sweeney!
Blog:
renesaldanajr.blogspot.com
Twitter:
@ReneSaldanaJr
Chantele Sedgwick
Chantele Sedgwick is a YA author, harpist, wife to one cute hubby and stay-at-home mom to four silly kids. She is the author of Love, Lucas, Switching Gears, Interlude, the forthcoming The Summer of Lost Things (June 4, 2019) and other titles. She's also a Gryffindor, Kit Kat hoarder, avid reader & lover of all things nerd. Chantele is represented by Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency.
Medeia Sharif
Medeia Sharif was born in New York City and presently calls Miami her home. She received her master’s degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. After becoming a voracious reader in high school and a relentless writer dabbling in many genres in college, she found her niche writing picture books, short stories, and novels for young people. In addition to being a published author, she’s a public-school teacher.
When she’s not writing, she is busy collecting recipes and is fond of baking. She also loves to garden and take care of her feline fur babies. REMEMBERING MOM’S KUBBAT HALAB (Albert Whitman, Fall 2022) and FRIZZY-HAIRED ZUZU (Magination Press, Fall 2023).
Website:
Instagram:
@medeiasharif
Hive Social:
@medeiasharif
Lucille Shulklapper
Lucille Shulklapper’s work has been published in anthologies, literary journals, art reviews. and the Internet. She has also published five collections of poetry and a picture book, led workshops and film critiques, made recordings for the blind, and taught reading from K-college. Presently, she's composing music and lyrics. She holds a B.A. from Queens College, New York, and an M.A. in reading from Manhattan College.
Stephanie Shaw
An Oregon native, Stephanie completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Education at Oregon State University and her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Lewis and Clark College. Her professional life includes teaching children with severe behavioral challenges, school counseling and school administration. But now her love is working with illustrators and editors to create stories that range from quiet to quirky, poetry to prose. When she isn’t assisting door-to-door vacuum cleaner vampire salesmen, taking cows on shopping trips for muumuus, or helping garden slugs with their calligraphy, she can be found at home with her husband Brad and her labradoodle Milo.
Stephanie is a member of SCBWI and has served on the faculty of Oregon SCBWI at annual conferences and as a mentor to aspiring writers at Oregon Great Critiques many times. She is a three-time award winner for her contributions to Highlights for Kids and High Five Magazine.
Website: www.stephanieshawauthor.com
Rachel Shupin
Rachel writes picture books with humor and heart. She was honored to be selected as a finalist in #PBParty and The Tassy Walden Awards for New Voices in Children’s Literature. She is a member of SCBWI and the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge.
Rachel grew up outside Washington, D.C. and graduated from The University of Maryland, College Park. She then completed an MA and EdM in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has been a professional school counselor, dancer, and dance teacher. Rachel lives with her husband, two children, and dog.
You can find Rachel on Twitter @rachel_shupin.
Ana Siqueira
Ana Siqueira is a Spanish-language elementary teacher and an award-winning
children's book author based in Tampa, Florida. Before Bella's Recipe for Success and If Your Babysitter is a Bruja, she published children's books in Portuguese in Brazil and
in Spanish for the foreign language educational markets. Other upcoming books are
ABUELA'S SUPER CAPA/LA SUPERCAPA DE ABUELA (HarperCollins 2023), OUR
WORLD BRAZIL (Barefoot 2023), BOITATA: THE FIRE SNAKE (Capstone 2023), ROOM IN MAMI'S CORAZON (HarperCollins 2024) and others TBA.
Ana is also a global educator and a PBS Media innovator.
Website:
anafiction.com
Twitter:
@SraSiqueira1307
Laken Slate
Laken Slate is an early childhood educator from Choctaw, Oklahoma. In the fourth grade, she struggled to read chapter books. She stayed in from recess, with a stack of picture books, and took one Accelerated Reader test at a time until she had enough points to keep a high grade in English. That’s when she fell in love with picture books. That’s also when she failed the test for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
Website:
Twitter:
@LakenSlate
Janelle Springer-Willms
Janelle Springer-Willms was born and raised on the beautiful island of Barbados and now lives with
her family in the Austrian Alps. She is a former Prosthetist-Orthotist who has seen the amazing things people can do when they put their minds to it. So she skies despite her fear of flying off the mountain. Hikes despite her fear of heights. Scuba dives despite her fear of big fish. And captains twin pirates who enjoy raiding the pantry and hiding under beds to devour their bounty. SAMMY THE
SEASICK PIRATE (Reycraft Books, 2021) is her debut picture book.
Twitter:
@jspringerwillms
Website:www.janellespringerwillms.com
Melissa Stiveson
Melissa Stiveson is passionate about children’s books, inspiring equity and creativity, and empowering children to follow their dreams. She loves to induce watering mouths with homemade and original delights, biking in natural beauty, and getting lost in the mountains or a delicious book. Melissa lives in Westminster, Colorado with her husband and is a Project Manager for a medical device company.
Twitter:
@DStiveson
Instagram:
@DStiveson
Joyce Sweeney
Joyce Sweeney is the author of fourteen novels for young adults and two chapbooks of poetry. Her first novel, Center Line, won the First Annual Delacorte Press Prize for an Outstanding Young Adult Novel. Many of her books appear on the American Library Association's Best Books List and Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers.
Her novel Shadow won the Nevada State Reading Award in 1997. Her novel Players was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Sports Book and by Working Mother magazine as a Top Ten for Tweens. Her novel, Headlock (Holt 2006), won a Silver Medal in the 2006 Florida Book Awards and was chosen by the American Library Association as a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.
Her first chapbook of poems, IMPERMANENCE , was published in 2008 by Finishing Line Press, her second, entitled WAKE UP will be released by the same publisher this spring. She has had numerous poems, short stories, articles and interviews published; and her play, FIRST PAGE CRITIQUES was produced in 2011.
Joyce has recently switched to writing young adult fantasy fiction and is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour agency.
Marie Tang
Marie Tang was born in Hong Kong, raised in New York City, and was a resident of Shanghai for over a decade. The unique characters and neon lights of the “Big City” have been an ever-present source of inspiration for her. As a child, she was neither encouraged nor discouraged to read so when she discovered the world of books as a young adult, Marie couldn’t help but read, study, write, and read some more. She was fortunate enough to spend several years as a literacy teacher. This has given her some of her most prized possessions, memories of reading aloud to kids. Marie sees herself as hardworking, mindful, and blessed for all the amazing experiences she’s been allotted. Her picture book manuscript, Tai Gong’s Celebration, won 2nd place in the 85th Annual Writers Digest Competition. Marie is a member of the SCBWI and an active participant in Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Challenge.
Andrea Tripke
Andrea Tripke is a German born children’s book writer/ illustrator holding a degree in fine arts, major illustration, from the Columbus College of Art and Design.
Her illustrated debut picture book A GIRL NAMED OCTOBER (Chicago Review Press) received a starred review. Excited by working in the children’s book industry Andrea wanted to do more and began writing and illustrating her own fictional and mostly humorous picture books. Her latest book YETI AND THE RUBBISH ON MOUNT EVEREST will be released in 2025 by Reycraft Books.
In 2022, Andrea was featured artist in the SCBWI-Florida newsletter and won the SCBWI-Florida portfolio people’s choice award. In 2023, she was awarded 3rd place for Illustration in the Rising Kite awards as well as for Illustration in the SCBWI Florida Portfolio Showcase.
Andrea lives with her family in Melbourne, Florida.
Melissa Stoller
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. She is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written with Callie Lovvorn and Shirin Rahman).
Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, a Book Meshuggenahs member, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Advisory Council member, and a past school and synagogue Trustee. She also interviews authors and offers resources on her blog. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator.
She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks. Melissa is represented by Jonathan Rosen at The Seymour Agency.
Website:
Blog:
https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
Pinterest:
Nancy Viau
Nancy Viau is the author of eleven books for children ages two to twelve including PRUETT AND SOO (Two Lions, 2022) and TODAY IS A BEACH DAY! (Albert Whitman, 2020). She especially loves creating picture books because, not only does she act like a kid most days, she enjoys seeing how talented illustrators bring her words to life.
A former teacher and librarian, Nancy resides in New Jersey and splits her time between the country (where cows outnumber cars) and the shore (where shoes are optional). Her inspiration comes from nature, her travels throughout the U.S. and various countries, and the antics of her four children who quickly turned into adults. Nancy often visits schools, libraries, and bookstores to present programs and workshops and believes that any day she gets to hang out with kids is a good day.
More about her writing life and adventures here:
Website:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NancyViau1
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nancyviau1/
Facebook:
Beth Vrabel
Beth Vrabel is author of the Cybils’-nominated Caleb and Kit, ILA award-winning A Blind Guide to Stinkville, JLG-selection A Blind Guide to Normal, The Reckless Club, the Pack of Dorks series, and The Newspaper Club. She lives in Connecticut with her family.
Website:
bethvrabel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorBethVrabel
Twitter:
twitter.com/beth_vrabel
Katie Venit
As a child, Katie Venit mapped ant trails and listened to maple leaves in the wind. She wished goodnight to the stars and never missed a chance to smell honeysuckle. As an adult, she continues to search for wonder in everyday objects and moments. Her heartfelt and STEM-loving writing illuminates everyday wonder through lyrical prose or science-driven deep-dives.
Katie’s debut picture book FORTS will be released by Viking in 2025. Her next book CASSINI'S MISSION will be published by MIT Kids Press, an imprint of Candlewick. Her flash fiction for adults has been nominated for Best of the Net and Best Small Fictions. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two kids. She is a member of SCBWI and sits on the advisory board of the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild.
Website:
Zenda Walker
Zenda Walker is a multi award-winning author, celebrity hair stylist, and CEO of Know Your Hairitage (KYH) - a business strategy company. The KYH book series – ZARA’S WASH DAY (Running Press Kids, June 2024) and ZION’S CROWN (Running Press Kids, September 2024) - celebrates the hair customs and traditions of diverse communities. Zenda is passionate about beauty education and helping people to discover the magic of textured hair.
Website:
IG:
@authorzendawalker
https://www.instagram.com/authorzendawalker/
Facebook: @knowyourhairitage
https://www.facebook.com/knowyourhairitage
Twitter:
@knowurhairitage
https://twitter.com/knowurhairitage
LinkedIn:
Zenda Walker
Christine Whan
Christine Whan is a children’s book writer from Los Angeles, born in South Korea and raised in Ohio. A former children’s pastor and secondary English teacher, she writes as much as she can while raising her daughter and two sons. Her stories explore identity, multicultural heritage, spirituality, creativity, with as much heart and humor as she can muster. When she’s not writing or momming, she loves jamming to 90s music in the car, visiting local bookstores, and eating all of the spicy foods.
Twitter:
@christinewhan