2019 HCBF Archives - Hudson Childrens Book Festival

Silvestro, Annie

Annie Silvestro is a lover of books who can often be found shuffling piles of them around so she has a place to sit or someplace to put her teacup. She is the author of BUTTERFLIES ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, illustrated by Dream Chen, THE CHRISTMAS TREE WHO LOVED TRAINS, illustrated by Paola Zakimi, MICE SKATING, illustrated by Teagan White, BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB and it’s forthcoming sequel, BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB GOES TO SCHOOL, illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss. Annie lives with her family by the beach in New Jersey. Visit Annie online at www.anniesilvestro.com or on Twitter/Instagram @anniesilvestro

3 Fun Facts

1. The library is my happy place.
2. I love to bake, mostly with chocolate.
3. I am terrified of roller coasters

Chima, Cinda Williams

New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima nearly failed first grade because she was always daydreaming instead of listening. By junior high, she got in trouble for writing novels in class. Yet the magic of books took her from first grade failure to first generation college graduate to college professor to best-selling author of the Seven Realms and Heir Chronicles teen fantasy series. In her newest novels, the Shattered Realms series, she indulges her longtime obsession with pirates and dragons. Visit her at www.cindachima.com.

3 Fun Facts

1. Cinda once went hot air ballooning and ended up landing in the middle of the Interstate.
2. Cinda has a fraternal twin. named Linda. But maybe you could’ve guessed that.
3. Cinda was named for a character in a book that her mother was reading before she was born. She’s met several other Cindas named for that same character.

Miller, Rhett

Rhett Miller is a singer-songwriter known for fronting the popular rock band Old 97’s. Between projects with the Old 97’s Miller has released six solo albums, most recently 2018’s The Messenger. In addition to his songwriting, Miller has branched out to write fiction and nonfiction. He has authored short stories, essays and articles that have been featured in Rolling Stone, Bookforum, Sports Illustrated, McSweeney’s, The Atlantic and Salon. When not on tour, Miller resides in New Paltz, New York with his wife and two children.

3 Fun Facts

1. I performed in public for the first time when I was 15 years old, a solo acoustic set at Dallas’ 500 Café.
2. I live on three acres in New York’s Hudson Valley on property that features a swimming pool with a slide as well as a big treehouse.
3. Born in Austin and raised in Dallas, I’m a seventh generation Texan. My kids however are second generation New Yorkers.
4. Bonus fun fact. I can recite the alphabet backwards in under four seconds.

Murray, Diana

Diana Murray loves to sit on her patio writing stories and poems, especially to the sound of passing showers. She is the author of many children’s books, including City Shapes, Grimelda: The Very Messy Witch, Doris the Bookasaurus, Unicorn Day! and more. Her poems have appeared in magazines such as Highlights for Children, and Spider. Diana grew up in New York City and still lives nearby with her firefighter husband, two daughters, and an assortment of pets–all of whom enjoy sunny summer days. www.dianamurray.com

3 Fun Facts

1. My pets include two birds, two lizards, and a new puppy who loves to go on long hikes in the woods.
2. I taught myself to juggle and play ukulele.
3. I have a collection of witch hats.

Smithson, Ryan

Ryan Smithson was a reservist in the Army Corps of Engineers. He spent one year in Iraq and, upon returning, began writing about his experiences there, culminating in his first book, “Ghosts of War,” a memoir of his service. Visit my website.

3 Fun Facts

1. I learned to play the guitar while in the army.
2. My favorite band in Pink Floyd.
3. My dream vacation is Rome, Italy

Perelman, Helen

Helen Perelman is the author of the Candy Fairies series (Simon & Schuster) and enjoys thinking of new adventures in Sugar Valley. She worked in a children’s bookstore, was a children’s book editor, and now writes full-time. She lives in Westchester, NY with her husband and two daughters. www.helenperelman.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I love candy!
2. I am a horrible speller
3. I have twin teen daughters

West,Tracey

Tracey West has written more than 300 books for children, including the bestselling Dragon Masters series, the Pixie Tricks series, and Pokémon chapter books. She lives in the western Catskills where there is plenty of room for dragons to roam. www.traceywest.com

3 Fun Facts

1. When I was 10 I won my library’s summer reading contest for reading the most books.
2. I raise chickens.
3. I have written more than 300 books for children, including many books about Pokémon.

Pyros, Andrea

Andrea Pyros is a writer, editor, and former teen magazine staffer. A native of New York City, she now lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and their two children. She is the author of two middle-grade books. Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas, from Capstone, was hailed as, “an empathetic story about learning to face problems both great and small,” from Foreword Reviews. Her first #kidlit novel, My Year of Epic Rock, was called “a perfect read for anyone who feels BFF-challenged” by Booklist, with School Library Journal saying Epic Rock is “a charming addition to upper elementary and middle school collections.” www.andreapyros.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I grew up in NYC but now I love living in the Hudson Valley
2. My Greek family is just like the characters in the movie, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING
3. My handwriting is getting worse by the year. If I write something and then go back to look at it a few days later, I can’t even tell what I’ve written down.

Lampman, Doug

Doug Lampman resides in Surprise, NY with his wife, children and his hunting dog. He works for a local construction company in the summer and teaches high school physical education during the school year. He also coaches boys basketball and is a department leader at his school. His hobbies include coaching, hunting, fishing, sports, carpentry, snowmobiling, listening to music, playing guitar, farming, cooking and spending time with family and friends. With a real passion for travel and new experiences, he hopes to spend his days of retirement seeing the world with his lovely wife Stephanie.

3 Fun Facts

1. I love the sound of a gym full of bouncing basketballs.
2. My favorite color is that bluish green color inside a snow bank on a sunny day.
3. The Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year.

McAndrew, Phil

Phil McAndrew is an illustrator, cartoonist, and writer. He has illustrated books like Monster Science by Helaine Becker and the Caveboy Dave series of graphic novels by Aaron Reynolds. He has also contributed comics and humor to publications like MAD Magazine, The New Yorker, The Nib, and many others. www.philintheblanks.com

3 Fun Facts

1. I’ve played drums in a few bands.
2. I’ve drawn things for Cartoon Network and MAD Magazine.
3. I live with three cats and over thirty house plants.