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
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.
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
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.
My name is Isabella Sementilli and I am 19 years old. In 5th grade, I was the victim of a bully who pulled out my chair as I went to sit down. I suffered a concussion, fractured tailbone and back and neck injuries. I was diagnosed with two rare and debilitating headache disorders- effects from the concussion. Since I could no longer tap dance or play tennis, I learned to knit and bake. I created my own cookie-Iznettes®.
When I wasn’t baking, I started to write about what happened to me. I would also doodle pictures to go along with what I wrote. I put it all together-creating my book-The Short Story of One Tough Cookie : A True Story.
I want to share my story so what happened to me, doesn’t happen to anyone else. I also started a Never Crumble!® line-t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, healing bracelets, and a Izzy Never Crumble!® doll!! I donate from the sales of my merchandise to anti-bullying and brain injury awareness organizations locally and nationally.
I have received numerous awards including- the Ruth Bader Ginsberg Agent of Change Award from NYSMCJ, the Neil & Jane Golub Making a Difference Award from the Anti-Defamation League, the Literary Champion Award. I was also featured in Cricket Media, Highlights Magazine -“Kids Changing the World: Cookies for a Cause.”
I live in Niskayuna with my mom Pola, dad Guy, and my chocolate lab Luca.
1. I am a bartender at my dad’s Italian restaurant
2. I have two USA Registered Trademarks
3. I collect rosary beads
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.
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.
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
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.
Bianca is the author of the new chapter book series, Magic On the Map, co-written with Courtney Sheinmel, and published by Random House Kids. She is also the author of The Time-Traveling Fashionsta, a historical fiction series published by Little, Brown and Company. The books have been translated into nine languages. Bianca is the Brooklyn regional manager at Writopia Lab, an award winning non-profit that fosters joy, literacy, and critical thinking in children and teens from all backgrounds through creative writing. You can find her at www.biancaturetsky.com
1. My grandmother Louise can read palms and tell fortunes (my character in my Time-Traveling Fashionista books is named after her!)
2. My great-grandmother Alice Mills was a professional football (soccer) player in England and that is how she came to America.
3. I was a competitive swimmer from when I was 5 years old through college and still feel happiest when I’m underwater.
Karen Kaufman Orloff is the author of11 books for children including the popular “I Wanna” series of picture books. Her more recent books include “Some Days,” “Goodnight, Little Bot,” and “Miles of Smiles.” A 12th picture book, “Dudley’s Day At Home” will be out in 2020 from Flashlight Press. www.karenkaufmanorloff.com
1. My favorite children’s book is “Horton Hears A Who”
2. Our family once had two iguanas, which, of course were the inspiration for “I Wanna Iguana!”
3. I owned and ran an antique store for 21 years.
KB once smashed into a tree while skiing. The accident led to a concussion, a cracked sternum, temporary notoriety as a sixth grader returned from the dead, and the realization that fictionalized accounts are way more interesting than just slipping on the ice.
Druids live among us, or at least they do in her YA series WIDE AWAKE released October 2018. When Gigi reverses the spell her mom died casting, she discovers that witches, werewolves, and magic aren’t just bedtime stories. They’re her story.
Be the FIRST to find out about new releases from Best-Selling Author, K.B. Anne. PLUS, receive Newsletter Subscriber Only Bonus Content! Join the Circle today! www.kbanne.com
1. Gryffindor who enjoys fighting dark forces and thinks Severius Snape is the greatest.
2. Believes dark chocolate is the cure to everything that ails you.
3. Be kind is her motto.
David Kirk grew up in the wild and boundless suburbs of Ohio, where he learned about small creatures and art. He is the creator of Miss Spider, who appears in many well-loved children’s books and even her own television series. David is also the author and illustrator of over a dozen other books for children. His latest book, My Hugging Rules, arrives this May, just in time for the Hudson Children’s Book Festival. He lives in a happy forest with his family, where they nurture and groom a variety of fluffy friends, many of whom appreciate a good hug. www.davidkirktreehouse.com
1. When I was a Cub Scout, I met astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
2. My big brother Daniel Kirk is also a children’s book author.
3. I have a pet hamster named Baby Ham. Her rapper name is Lil’ Chunk.
Nancy Furstinger has been speaking up for animals since she learned to talk, and she hasn’t shut up yet. She is the author of nearly 100 books, including many on her favorite topic: animals! She started her writing career in third grade, when her class performed a play she wrote while recovering from chicken pox. Since then, Nancy has been a feature writer for a daily newspaper, a managing editor of trade and consumer magazines, and an editor at two children’s book publishing houses. She shares her home with big dogs, house rabbits, and a chinchilla (all rescued), and volunteers with several animal organizations. www.nancyfurstinger.com
1. I keep a pen that lights up on my nighttable in case inspiration strikes at dark hours.
2. Three of my books were inspired by my rescued animals (dog and rabbits). They loved accompanying me to book events!
3. I wrote my first story when I was in third grade. My class performed it as a play and I so loved hearing my words spoken that I decided to become a writer.
