Adame
Leslie Adame is a first-generation Mexican American and graduate of UCLA with a degree in political science and a minor in film, television, and digital media. She’s always enjoyed giving back and telling stories about characters not often found in books or films. Her debut Latinx middle grade fantasy is Chloe Vega and the Agents […]
Cullen
History has never meant a dull recounting of dates and wars for Lynn Cullen. She was trained to love the subject as a child, when her father led his large family on camping trips across the United States every summer, excursions that centered around learning about the lives of the women and men who shaped […]
Rothman
Scott Rothman is a writer of picture books, screenplays, theater, and humor pieces. Scott’s debut picture book ATTACK OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON (Random House) and its sequel RETURN OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON were both National Indie bestsellers. His most recent book KITTYBUNKPORT was featured on the Today Show and was selected by Jenna Bush Hager […]
Jordan
Ashley Jordan (she/her) is a contemporary romance author whose work explores emotional healing, complicated family dynamics, and second chances. Her debut novel, ONCE UPON A TIME IN DOLLYWOOD, draws readers into the Tennessee mountains with its blend of heartfelt storytelling and slow-burn romance. Inspired by authors like Emily Henry, Kennedy Ryan, and Beverly Jenkins, Ashley […]
VanBrakle
Khadijah VanBrakle is a Muslim woman of color, born and raised in Canada to American parents. She’s an alumni of the Highlights Foundation Muslim Storytellers fellowship. Her debut Young Adult novel, Fatima Tate Takes The Cake, was a 2024 NAACP Image Award finalist for Outstanding Youth/Teen Literature, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and […]
Campbell
Cebo Campbell is a writer, director, and cultural storyteller whose work moves across books, film, and design. His debut novel, Sky Full of Elephants, became a bestseller and is now being adapted for film in collaboration with Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy Productions. Sky Full of Elephants has been longlisted for the Aspen Literary Prize, longlisted […]
Loberti
Aria Mia Loberti is an actress, author, and activist. In 2023, she made her acting debut as the lead in Netflix’s Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated series All the Light We Cannot See. Despite no formal acting training, Aria bested thousands to be cast in the internationally sought-after lead role. Her powerful performance was nominated for […]
Pattee
Emma Pattee is a climate journalist and fiction writer who has written about climate change for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and more. In 2021 she coined the term “Climate Shadow” to describe an individual’s potential impact on climate change. Emma’s fiction has appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, Idaho […]
Phan
Aimee Phan was born and raised in Orange County, California. She received her BA in English from UCLA and her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She is the author of The Lost Queen, a young adult fantasy duology, as well as two books for adults, We Should Never Meet: Stories and the novel The […]
Lowry Schuettpelz
Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She is a writer, educator, and policy practitioner. Carrie currently serves as an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Planning and Public Affairs (SPPA) at the University of Iowa, where she is also the Director of the Native Policy […]