Venable

Colleen AF Venable

Colleen AF Venable is the author of indie bestseller Katie the Catsitter graphic novel series with Stephanie Yue (nominated for 14 state awards), as well as the National Book Award Longlisted Kiss Number 8, a graphic novel co-created with Ellen T. Crenshaw. Her other books include The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom with Lian Cho, […]

Bousamra

Rose Bousamra

Rose Bousamra is an experienced comics professional, specializing in illustration and graphic novels for kids and young adults. Their first graphic novel, Frizzy, written by Claribel A. Ortega and published with First Second Books, earned a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, the Pura Belpre award for Children’s Text, an Eisner Award nomination (Best Publication […]

Rusch

Elizabeth Rusch

Elizabeth Rusch writes propulsive stories both true and fictional on topics as diverse as democracy and dog heroes, climate change and color, equal pay and asteroids. Her writings on vital, high-interest topics pose essential questions and celebrate human ingenuity and the power of collective action. A skilled and enthusiastic generalist, Rusch writes both fiction and […]

Johnson

Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson (aka “Captain Create”) is a proud Temple University alumnus, who grew up just south of Philadelphia, PA. There, he spent his childhood seeking adventure with friends, watching movies, reading comics, and falling in love with the magic of storytelling. Kevin is the author of the critically-acclaimed picture book CAPE along with an upcoming […]

Lawson

Jenny Lawson

Jenny Lawson (aka “The Bloggess”) is is a #1 NYT bestselling author and award-winning humor writer best known for her inspiring candor in sharing her struggle with depression, anxiety and chronic pain.  She lives in Texas with her husband and child and was constantly “buying too many books” (“Not a real thing,” she insists), so […]

Park

Patricia Park

Patricia Park is a tenured professor of undergraduate and graduate MFA creative writing at American University, a former Fulbright scholar in Creative Arts, Jerome Hill Artist Fellow, Edith Wharton Writer-in-Residence, and American Association of University Women fellow, and author of the debut young adult novel, Imposter Syndrome & Other Confessions Of Alejandra Kim, (2023), What’s […]

Goodluck

Award-winning author Laurel Goodluck writes picture books with modern universal themes and everyday life, showing Native children and all children that their cultural perspective is unique and powerful. Laurel comes from an intertribal background. She is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota and an Alaska Native Citizen of […]

Cosimano

Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Writers Award winner, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a People magazine pick and was named one of New York Public […]

Metcalf

Lindsay Metcalf

Lindsay H. Metcalf is a former journalist who writes nonfiction and poetry about people who strive to make the world better. Her books, including No Voice Too Small and No World Too Big, have won honors such as the International Literacy Association’s Social Justice Literature Award and the Green Earth Book Award, as well as […]

Elmore

Ms. Biffle-Elmore is an award winning author, a United States Air Force and Army retired veteran, and was one of the first women B-52 mechanics. It is also noteworthy to mention that there are only a handful of women who served in the United States Armed Services who possesses three major military campaign medals. Ms. […]