Some of Ree's earliest memories are with a book in her hand, and today, she still loves to read stories of all kinds, from children’s poetry to adult suspense novels. When she and her husband started their family, she became a stay-at-home mom to two boys. It was then, in a few solitary moments, she put a pencil in her hand and discovered a love of writing. Quiet things inspire her: a word, a child’s desire, a tug in her heart. Afternoons and evenings are for family, friends, and lots of daydreaming.
Tamika Burgess is a storyteller with over a decade of novel, TV/film, and personal essay writing experience. Tamika resides in sunny Southern California.
Karen S. Chow is an engineer by day and middle-grade novelist by night. Her debut, MIRACLE, will be published March 2023 with Christy Ottaviano Books/Little, Brown BYR.
Fiona Cook is a writer and visual artist living in Chicago. She is a mother, friend, gardener, and union home health care worker. Fiona is inspired by the magic, mystery, and mischief of our planet Earth and draws from that relationship in her work.
Sydney Dunlap is a former elementary school teacher who has worked with at-risk youth in a variety of settings, and she enjoys reading and writing heartfelt, hopeful fiction that expands young readers’ awareness of tough topics. She is a published poet and has also written for a newspaper. A lifelong animal lover, Sydney lives with her family in a home where the dogs and cats outnumber the people.
María José is a writer of children’s books. Her favorite stories usually include animals, friendships, family, and magic. She grew up snorkeling and hiking in her homeland of Honduras, where nature and culture nourished her soul. Her debut novel, Turtles of the Midnight Moon, will be published by Knopf in the Spring of 2023. She is represented by Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties.
Lindsay Fryc is the author of Emma and the Queen of Featherstone, a middle grade science fiction novel centered around an anxious STEAM loving girl thrown into a technocratic world of unknowns. Lindsay is a nerd wife and the mother of two girls, one prima ballerina and one pure hurricane. When she isn’t lost in fictional worlds, you can find her gardening or planning a far off adventure for her family to explore together. But no matter where the adventuring takes her, her heart is rooted home to those Michigan trees.
Kate Fussner (she/her) is a novelist, teacher, and accidental poet living in Massachusetts with her wife and dramatic dog. When not reading or writing, Kate can be found spending time with her family, baking, or singing her favorite musicals. Kate believes in the power of a good laugh and a good cry, and hopes her stories will provide readers with both.
Isi Hendrix is a children’s book author who has been lucky enough to live and work all over the world, from the Himalayas to the Amazon rainforest, during her past life as an anthropologist. Now she’s based in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY, where she lives with a rotating roster of foster kittens and a stubborn refusal to accept that she is highly allergic to cats.
Adia Kelbara and the Circle Of Shamans September 19, 2023
Caroline Huntoon is an author and educator based in Michigan. They write middle grade and young adult fiction across genres. Their debut novel, Skating on Mars (Feiwel and Friends), will be published in May 2023. Find out more about Caroline and their work at CarolineHuntoon.com.
Elisa Stone Leahy is a Peruvian/American author of MG and YA books unexpectedly living in Ohio. She also dabbles in documentary film, social activism and library work, but spends most of her time vacuuming dog fur and being impressed by her brilliant children.
Cliff Lewis is a time-traveler from the 1990s, presently parked in the 2020s. He’s a professional writer, a hometown story-slam winner, and a keynote speaker living in Pennsylvania with his wife, their two kids, and a little dog named Pippin. In his spare time, Cliff volunteers for local progressive organizations, which once led to a crew of young climate activists devouring all of his family’s traditional election-day chili.
Amber Morrell is an author and librarian hailing from Southern California. She writes whimsical fantasy and science fiction for children and adults. Her work explores the liminal spaces between science and magic. In her free time, she plays D&D, watches Star Trek, and makes TikTok videos about esoteric knowledge. The Alchemy of Letting Go is her first novel.
Linh S. Nguyễn is a children’s author and arts-based workshop facilitator. Her debut novel, NO PLACE LIKE HOME (HarperCollins ‘23) is available everywhere books are sold as of March 14.
Noa is an Israeli-American author/illustrator residing in sunny San Diego. Her debut middle grade novel, NOT SO SHY (Kar-Ben 4/4/23) reflects her kid’s challenges of moving to the US and her own challenges of moving back and forth between Israel and the US as a child.
Emi Pinto is a Canadian writer and Doctorate of Education graduate, who writes everything from middle grade to young adult. She's a huge fan of all things fantasy and spooky and hijinks (hello cute ghosts and awkward witches), and loves to weave her mixed Indian and French-Canadian heritage into her stories (dosa with a side of poutine anyone?). When she isn’t reading or writing or pretending to work, you can find her taking long walks in forest trails with her family, looking for fairy doors. Her first book BEE BAKSHI AND THE GINGERBREAD SISTERS comes out September 12, 2023 with HarperCollins Publishers.
Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters September 12, 2023
Thushanthi Ponweera is a Sri Lankan author and poet. Her debut middle-grade novel I AM KAVI, written in verse and set in 1990s Sri Lanka, is forthcoming from Holiday House in 2023. Through her work, she attempts to reconcile the despair, hope, and deep love she feels for her island home.
Maya Prasad is a South Asian American author, a Caltech graduate, and a former software engineer. She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and writing stories with joyful representation for kids and teens. Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms is her debut chapter book, the first in a STEM adventure series that was inspired by her own kiddo, who also has a favorite cheetah stuffie, an active imagination, and a trusty cardboard box. Prasad is also the author of the YA contemporary novel Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things, and has had short fiction published in Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA, Cast of Wonders, and Voyage YA.Visit her website www.mayaprasad.com or find her on Instagram or TikTok @msmayaprasad.
Megan Reyes is the author of the Heroes of Havensong series for young readers (book 1, Dragonboy, is coming January 2023). Megan lives in California with her husband, four sons, two dogs, and an ever-growing collection of dragon and fox figurines.
Ronnie Riley (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary, neurodiverse, disabled author based in Ontario, Canada. They love tea, chocolate, and a cat (or six) nearby while they are writing or reading. Ronnie writes books they wish they had as a kid, featuring queer characters, friendship, and hope. Their stories are contemporary, allowing kids to see themselves as they are in the real world.
Kacy Ritter is a fantasy geek who has lived all across the Lone Star State. She holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Texas, and currently resides in Houston with her partner and their daughter. She daylights as a healthcare professional, and loves writing at the intersection of fantasy and Texas Americana.
Rhonda Roumani is a Syrian-American journalist and author of picture books and middle grade novels. She writes books that center Arab and Muslim characters, challenge assumptions, and that lie on the fringes of more dominant narratives.
DaVaun Sanders resides in Phoenix, Arizona. His short fiction has appeared in Dancing Star Press, Broken Eye Books, Escape Pod, Podcastle, the New York Times bestselling Black Boy Joy anthology, and elsewhere. He currently serves as Executive Editor for the World Fantasy Award and Hugo Award winning FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction. His editorial projects include Breathe FIYAH, a flash fiction anthology collaboration with Tor.com. He hopes to continue expanding his body of work in children’s fiction, for his own twins and kids everywhere who deserve to enjoy inclusive stories. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @davaunsanders.
Keynan Masters & The Peerless Magic Crew October 17, 2023
Davina Tijani is a speculative fiction writer for adults and children with a penchant for world mythology and enjoys incorporating it into her writing. She grew up an avid lover of films and books especially Star Wars which sparked a lifelong love of storytelling in all its forms. Davina was born in London, United Kingdom where she currently lives. She later studied at The University of East Anglia and University College London, before pursuing writing.
Having grown up in the small town of Irvine, Kentucky, I’ve spent most of my life in and around Eastern Kentucky, aside from three lovely years I spent living in the Phoenix, Arizona area. I am currently completing my thirteenth year in the classroom—I spent a decade teaching high school students and am now completing my third year with seventh graders. My first novel, Doomsday Dani, will be published by Orange Blossom Publishing in March of 2023.
