Mae Respicio writes heartwarming middle grade fiction. Her novel, THE HOUSE THAT LOU BUILT (out now), won an APALA Honor Award, was an NPR Best Book, and named to many state reading and “best of” lists. Her upcoming books are ANY DAY WITH YOU (out May 5, 2020!) and EVERYTHING STARTS WITH NOTHING (2021). Find her at www.maerespicio.com.

Jessica Kim writes about Asian American girls finding their way in the world. Before she was an author, Jessica studied education at UC Berkeley and spent ten years teaching third, fourth, and fifth grades in public schools. Like Yumi, Jessica lives with her family in Southern California and can’t get enough Hot Cheetos, stand-up comedy, and Korean barbecue.

Debbi Michiko Florence’s debut middle grade novel is Keep It Together, Keiko Carter (May 2020/Scholastic), a story about friendships and first crushes (and chocolate). She is also the author of the Jasmine Toguchi and the My Furry Foster Family chapter book series. A third-generation Japanese American, Debbi was born and raised in California. She is a former zoo educator, and now writes full-time in her writing studio, The Word Nest, in Connecticut. She loves passion fruit bubble tea and all chocolate, but favors dark, caramel and maple flavors, and no nuts.