Aida Salazar is an author and arts activist. Her verse novels included the critically-acclaimed and award winning, The Moon Within and the forthcoming Land of the Cranes (9.15.20). Her bio picture book, Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Revolutionary Fighter and an anthology she will co-edit with Yamile Saied Mendez, Calling the Moon: Writers of Color on Menstruation, are scheduled for release in 2022. She is a founding member of Las Musas, an unprecedented collective of Latinx debut Kidlit writers. She lives with her family of artists in Oakland, CA.

Ernesto Cisneros was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still teaches. He holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine; a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach; as well as a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University. As an author, he believes in providing today’s youth with an honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify. The real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to reflect that. Efrén Divided is his first book. You can visit him online at www.ernestocisneros.com

Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is an Argentine-American, award-winning author of stories for young readers. She’s a MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children program, and a founding member of Las Musas Collective.

Kelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling and award winning author of FRONT DESK, THREE KEYS, and PARACHUTES.