About Fred Wynn

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So far Fred Wynn has created 271 blog entries.

Macris, Amy

Macris, Amy

Author Illustrator Amy Macris began her career as a kindergarten teacher more than thirty years ago. She holds a Masters degree in Early Childhood Development. She is thrilled to bring these tender and true stories to children everywhere.  At age six Amy dreamed of becoming a teacher, an artist, a children’s book author and of living on a farm.  She doesn’t live on a farm yet, but who knows what the future holds. amydeweerd.wixsite.com/mysite

3 Fun Facts

1. Amy has been drawing and writing stories since she was six years old.
2. Amy loves to read to small children.
3. Amy makes a huge mess when she is writing and painting!

Wiklinski, Stanley E.

Wiklinski, Stanley E.

Stanley E. Wiklinski has an MFA from the Yale University, School of Drama. Following graduation, he acted on Broadway, regional theatre and television.  He is a member of the Naval Academy Class of 1958, a retired U.S. Navy Commander, and a retired New Jersey Commissioner of Maritime Pilotage.  He is married, with four children, and five grandchildren, residing with his wife in New Jersey.

3 Fun Facts

1. Retired U.S. Naval Officer.
2. Graduate of Yale University School of Drama, with Henry Winkler. Former Broadway and television actor.
3. Retired N.J. Commissioner of Maritime Pilotage.

Sibson, Laura

Sibson, Laura

After a career in undergraduate counseling, Laura Sibson pursued an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing in a local coffee shop, you can find her running the neighborhood streets or hiking with her dog. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband. Edie In Between, is her latest book following her debut novel, The Art of Breaking Things. www.laurasibson.com

3 Fun Facts

1. My happy place is our cabin in the Adirondacks where I can cross-country ski in the winter and kayak in the summer
2. I have a fierce and abiding love for strong coffee. And chocolate.
3. I become grouchy when I go too long without working on a story.

Gavigan, Jenna

Gavigan, Jenna

Jenna Gavigan is the author of the middle-grade novels Lulu the Broadway Mouse, and Lulu the Broadway Mouse: The Show Must Go On. As a child, she dreamed of Broadway, and as teenager, she made her Broadway debut in Gypsy, opposite Bernadette Peters. Since then, she’s appeared in a handful of films, on a gaggle of television shows, and on stages east and west. Also a producer, Jenna won her first Tony Award in June of 2022 as member of the producing team for the Best New Musical A Strange Loop.  Jenna holds a BA in creative writing from Columbia University, where she focused on fiction, television, and screenwriting. Like Lulu, Jenna loves cheese, regularly quotes musicals, and continues to dream of Broadway. Visit her online at iamjennagavigan.com or on Twitter and Instagram @Jenna_Gavigan www.iamjennagavigan.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I went to regular school during the day while performing on Broadway at night.
2. I wrote a picture-book draft of Lulu in a children’s book writing class during my final semester of college.
3. I gave birth to my first child in 2020!!

Viau, Nancy

Viau, Nancy

NANCY VIAU is the author of the following picture books: Pruett and Soo, Today Is a Beach Day!, First Snow, City Street Beat, Storm Song, Look What I Can Do! and Splish, Splash! First to Last (Forthcoming 2023). She is also the author of several middle-grade novels, including Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head, Something Is Bugging Samantha Hansen,Just One Thing! and Beauty and Bernice. A former teacher and librarian, and forever a kid-at-heart, Viau loves to visit schools, libraries, and bookstores across the U.S. to present assembly programs and writing workshops. Connect with Nancy on Twitter or Instagram: @NancyViau1 or on: NancyViau.com.

Awards
2019 IPPY/Independent Publisher Book Silver Award Winner
2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist
2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Award Winner

3 Fun Facts

1. I hiked up an active volcano in Guatemala and hiked down in TOTAL DARKNESS.
2. I once tried to break into the principal’s van—he had the EXACT same one and I thought it was mine!
3. My dreams are like adventure movies and if a dream is boring or I’m scared, I can change it immediately.

Young, Brigit

Young, Brigit

Brigit Young is the author of the middle grade novels Worth a Thousand Words, The Prettiest, and Bright. The Prettiest was featured on Seventeen Magazine’s 50 Books for Teens That You Won’t Be Able to Put Down and NBC News’ 9 Books to Help Young Girls Build a Positive Image. Brigit has also published poetry in multiple literary journals including The Common, 2 River View, and Burrow Press. She lives with her family in New Jersey where she gardens, plays pretend with her toddler, and teaches creative writing workshops to kids.  brigityoung.com

Awards/Honors
– Bank Street Best Books
– Starred reviews
– Chicago Public Library Best Books
– Italy’s Andersen Award Best Book for 12-14 year olds
– Junior Library Guild selection

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a crested gecko named June Dolly (her middle name is in honor of Dolly Parton).
2. I met my husband when we acted together in a short kissing scene on a soap opera!
3. When I was a kid I was obsessed with orcas and did school reports on them pretty much every year. I wanted to be an orca trainer or researcher, and to this day I dream of seeing one in the wild!

Miller, Kayla

Miller, Kayla

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Click graphic novel series and co-author of its spin-off series Besties. www.kayla-miller.com

Awards

New York Times Bestseller, Indie Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Little Maverick Reading List Selection.

3 Fun Facts

1. I have a pet turtle named Galahad. Her favorite food is bananas.
2. I didn’t always want to be a cartoonist. Growing up, I wanted to be a paranormal investigator.
3. I can read text when it’s upside down almost as easily as when it’s right side up, which came in handy while working on group projects or sharing books in school.

Parra, John

Parra, John

John Parra is an award-winning artist, illustrator, author, and educator, best known for his Latino themed children’s picture books. https://www.johnparraart.com/

Awards

CSMCL’s Best Multicultural Books of 2024, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, NY Society of Illustrators, Original Art Show Selection, “Starred Review” Kirkus Review

3 Fun Facts

I like to play guitar, travel, and eat good food.

Jackson, Tiffany D.

Jackson, Tiffany D.

Tiffany D. Jackson is the author of critically acclaimed YA novels including the Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning Monday’s Not Coming, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Allegedly, and her ode to 90’s hip-hop Let Me Hear A Rhyme. www.writeinbk.com

CSK John Steptoe for New Talent
Walter Dean Myers Honor

3 Fun Facts

1. I’m obsessed with horror movies
2. Love cookie dough
3. I don’t do clowns.

Venkatraman, Padma

Venkatraman, Padma

Padma Venkatraman is the author of The Bridge Home, Born Behind Bars, A Time to Dance, Island’s End and Climbing the Stairs. Her books have sold over ¼ million copies, received over 20 starred reviews, and won numerous awards: Walter Dean Myers Award, South Asia Book Award, Golden Kite, ALA Notable etc. Her poetry has been published in Poetry Magazine and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. An oceanographer by training, Padma loves teaching and sharing her love for reading and writing with others. Her latest novel, Safe Harbor, is about a girl who rescues a stranded seal in Rhode Island, where Padma lives with her family.
www.padmavenkatraman.com

Awards
Padma Venkatraman is the winner of a Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, Golden Kite, Crystal Kite, three South Asia Book Awards, two Paterson Prizes, Julia Ward Howe and Nerdy Book Awards; recipient of Malka Penn, Sakura Medal, Prix des Libraries, Storytelling World and Litterado honors, etc. Her novels have appeared on numerous best book lists (ALA Notable, Kirkus, Booklist Editor’s Choice, NYPL, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street, CSMCL and many more).

3 Fun Facts

1. I play Indian classical music, like Geetha, the protagonist of Safe Harbor.
2. I was the only BIPOC female in my incoming graduate oceanography class in the 1990’s.
3. I was inspired to write Safe Harbor by a seal I came across while strolling along the beautiful New England beach near my home.

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