Juana Martinez-Neal is the recipient of the 2019 Caldecott Honor for Alma and How She Got Her Name (Candlewick Press), her debut picture book as author-illustrator. She also the recipient of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Medal for Fry Bread: A Native American Story (Roaring Brook) and the 2018 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration for […]

Isabel Sterling is an LGBTQ advocate and educator by day and a YA author by night. When she’s not writing about magic and murder, Isabel can be found lost in a good book, marathoning her favorite shows, or relaxing by the lake. She lives in central NY with her wife and their brood of furry […]

Ismée Williams is the critically-acclaimed author of the YA contemporary #OwnVoices Water in May (2017) and This Train Is Being Held (2020), a Junior Library Guild selection, published by Amulet Books. Ismée has been an invited speaker at The Virginia Festival of the Book, The NYC Teen Author Festival, The Southern Kentucky Book Festival, and […]

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 […]

I.W. Gregorio is a practicing surgeon by day, masked avenging YA writer by night. Her novels include Lambda Literary Award finalist None of the Above, and This Is My Brain in Love, which has received three starred reviews so far. She is proud to be a board member of interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, and […]

Daniel Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator. Some of his books include: Float, Night Out, That is My Dream, and Bring Me A Rock!. Daniel has been called “…a master of visual storytelling.”- Jody Hewston, Kinderlit, and “…enchanting, versatile” – The New York Times. He believes that our stories have the […]

Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent a couple of years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age eight with his family. He is the publisher of Odd Dot, an imprint of Macmillan, making him one of the youngest publishers in the industry. He has served on the CBC diversity committee and […]

Danielle Paige is the New York Times bestselling author of the Dorothy Must Die series, the Stealing Snow series, the graphic novel MERA Tidebreaker, and the forthcoming Archie comic, Betty Cooper: Superteen. In addition to writing young adult books, she works in the television industry, where she’s received a Writers Guild of America Award and […]

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 […]

Christina Soontornvat is a storyteller, engineer, and STEM educator. She is the author of the fantasy middle grade series, The Changelings, and the early chapter book series, Diary of an Ice Princess. Her newest books include the middle grade fantasy, A Wish in the Dark, and All Thirteen, a nonfiction account of the Thai Cave […]