2018 HCBF Archives - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

McCully, Emily Arnold

McCully, Emily Arnold

I have been illustrating children’s books since 1967 and writing them since 1980. After college, I moved to NYC and worked on the fringes of advertising. My first children’s book came about by happy accident. I have also published adult novels and a Y/A biography of Ida M Tarbell, the Woman Who Challenged Big Business- and Won! www.emilyarnoldmccully.com

More biographies of Ada Byron Lovelace and 21 other important women are coming later this year.

3 Fun Facts

1. I wrote my first book at 3
2. I once acted in an Of-Broadway play
3. I eat weeds

Marchese, Allison Guertin

Marchese, Allison Guertin

Allison Marchese is a graduate of Fordham University in New York City with a degree in communications and creative writing. She spent much of her professional career in public relations. In her work as a writer, Allison has created plays, and written short fiction, feature articles, and essays on the people, places and events in her adopted home of Columbia County, NY where she has lived for 30 years. Allison says she has always been a writer at heart and has history in her genes. Her family on her father’s side has kept meticulous records of the family dating back to the early 1600s in Anjou, France. Her idea of writing local histories blossomed when she and her husband purchased a historic 1740s colonial home in the hamlet of Malden Bridge, NY. They have lived there for many yeas with their two cats and possibly several other previous inhabitants. The Hidden History of Columbia County, NY, is Allison’s first history book. She follows up with her newest local history book, Hudson Valley Curiosities which contains some of the region’s most suspenseful stories and features some of the most infamous people to step foot in the region.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love history and reading.
2. I ride horses
3. I have a metal detector

Allen, Elanna

Elanna Allen is the author most recently of Pet Dad and Poor Little Guy. She graduated from Brown University and studied animation and illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. She has designed characters and directed animation for Disney Junior, Nick Jr, and PBS. She lives in New York City with her husband and two boys, and is currently learning to play the ukulele. elannaallen.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Elanna designed characters and directed animation for Disney
2. She lives in New York City with her husband and two boys
3. Elanna is learning to play the ukulele.

Williams, Ismee

Ismée Williams is a pediatric cardiologist who trained and practiced at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City for 15 years. She lives in New York with her husband and three daughters as well as a dog who is commonly mistaken for a muppet. Water in May is her first novel. www.ismeewilliams.com

3 Fun Facts

1. Ismee is a pediatric cardiologist and the book is based on her experience in the field.
2. Her mother is a Cuba immigrant and she was raised by her abuelos, which also informed Mari’s familial relationships in the book
3. Her labradoodle has a larger Instagram following than she does: https://www.instagram.com/redrowandoodle

Sales, Leila

Sales, Leila

Leila Sales is the author of six young adult and middle grade novels, including This Song Will Save Your Life, Once Was a Time, and, most recently, If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say. Leila grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Chicago. Her hobbies include riding her bike, eating chocolate, and sleeping. Leila lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works in children’s book publishing. Follow her @LeilaSalesBooks or at leilasales.com.

3 Fun Facts

1.I type using only two fingers.
2. I did gymnastics for eight years.
3. I can recite the names of every student in my high school class in alphabetical order.

Olien, Jessica

Olien, Jessica

Jessica is the author and illustrator of four books for Balzer+Bray/Harpercollins including RIGHT NOW, ADRIFT: AN ODD COUPLE of POLAR BEARS, THE BLOBFISH BOOK and SHARK DETECTIVE. Jessica’s cartoons have been published in the New Yorker and the New York Observer and Conde Nast Traveler and her writing for adults has been published in Slate, the Atlantic, McSweeney’s and many others. www.jessicaolien.com

3 Fun Facts

1. When I’m stressed I look at pictures of Corgis.
2. My favorite fruit is pomegranate.
3. I used to live in Egypt.

McDonough, Yona Zeldis

McDonough, Yona Zeldis

Yona Zeldis McDonough is the author of 28 books for children, including several in the highly popular WHO WAS…? series. She has also published seven novels for adults as well as articles, essays and short fiction. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, photographer Paul McDonough.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love Pomeranians and I’ve had as many as three at once.
2. My husband built a doll house for me. It inspired one of my books (The Doll House Magic) and it has pride of place in our living room.
3. I like to memorize poetry an know over sixty poems by heart.

Biedrzycki, David

Biedrzycki, David

The moment his brother showed him how to draw a face when he was 4 years old David Biedrzycki has been hooked on drawing ever since. In his early years he created stories for his parents and friends. A commercial artist since 1980 his work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, book covers, billboards and even ice cream boxes. The supermarket is like a gallery of his work.

Now he has now returned to his first love of picture book storytelling. He has illustrated close to 30 books including self-authored and award winning Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective series, Me and My Dragon series and his newest series Breaking News Bear Alert, a Junior Library Guild Selection and winner of book the Illinois Monarch Picture Book Award and the Georgia State Picture Book Award. David travels the world extensively to over 100 schools a year sharing his digital book making process with aspiring young writers, illustrators and readers. www.davidbiedrzycki.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I love to fish but I leave it up to my son to take fish off the hook. I hate touching slimy fish.
2. I have not used paints and brushes in almost 20 years. I do all my art digitally.
3. I met my wife of 36 years in kindergarten.

McCarthy, Deirdre

McCarthy, Deirdre

Deirdre McCarthy has earned a Master of Science in Education, with distinction. In addition, she has earned a certification, Certified Financial Education Instructor, through the National Educator’s Council. Currently, Deirdre is a teacher in the Hudson Junior High School. In addition, she has a financial literacy company for children, Counting with Common Cents. In her free time, Deirdre loves spending time with her family and dog. www.countingwithcommoncents.com

3 Fun Facts

1. In sixth grade, I modeled for a book cover that Diane de Groat created.
2. I am a teacher in the Hudson City School District.
3. I love spending my free time with my family and dog.

Hasbrook, Sarah D.

Hasbrook, Sarah D.

Sarah D. Hasbrook wrote and illustrated her first self-published book “Sadie Mae’s Constant Song” in the summer of 2017. In addition, Sarah is a second grade special education teacher. She holds an Associate in Arts from Columbia-Greene Community College, Bachelor of Science in Education from SUNY New Paltz and two Master’s degrees, one in Childhood Special Education and most recently (2017), a second Master’s degree in Childhood Literacy Education both from SUNY New Paltz. Her passion for teaching and literacy prompted her to write this story. She wanted people to know that even when life is difficult, it is important to always see the good in every situation. In her free time she loves photography, to travel, and of course spend time with her favorite four legged friend, Sadie Mae. Visit Sarah’s website.

3 Fun Facts

1. Sailing is one of my favorite things to do on vacation.
2. My second grade teacher inspired me to be a second grade teacher.
3. I love to travel, but I have never been in an airplane.