Congrats on your most recent book. Tell us a little about it, including the inspiration behind it.
Thank you! My faith-based, climate action picture book, God’s Earth is Something to Fight For (Bushel & Peck’s new faith imprint, Sunbeam) is releasing in June. I can’t wait to share it with you! I love the surreal illustrations by Kris Smolskaya. This book has had quite a journey with a number of revisions transforming it from mainstream to faith-based. This issue, saving the earth, is so dear to me. My hope is my book inspires young children to take an active part to care for the earth—that’s what God calls us to do. Back matter includes 10 ways children can help reduce their carbon footprint. I’m looking for endorsers and reviewers, so if you are interested in being on my launch team, please email me: amysase [at] gmail [dot] com. It’s available for preorder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Earth-Something-Fight-Houts/dp/1638191476/.
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We’d love to hear more about your writing journey. What’s the process been like?
My writing journey started out in the 1980s when our older daughter, Emily, was born. I was at home taking care of her and started writing when she took her afternoon nap. My mom was a published author, so I asked her a million questions about writing, the submission process, etc. I actually started out writing for a parenting newsletter my mom and dad published called Parent & preschooler. (The “p” in preschooler is supposed to be lower case to symbolize the child.) I cooked with our daughters and wrote a monthly column called “Preschooler in the Kitchen” for 12 years. I also enrolled in writing classes and wrote poetry, short stories, and articles to build my credits, but my dream was to have a picture book published. My dream came true when Standard published An ABC Christmas in 1993. Over the years, I’ve had the most success writing picture books, both fiction and nonfiction, on assignment. An editor will assign multiple titles, 4, 6, 10—the most I’ve been assigned at one time was 60! They were simple retellings of fairy tales, folk tales, and fables for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. I’ve worked with wonderful editors on books with licensed characters such as Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street. But while I love writing on assignment, I also have this push to publish my own work. I’ve had a few successes like my God’s Earth… and am hoping for more. I’m currently submitting to agents. It’s been quite the roller coaster ride. Some years I’ve very busy and successful and other years I haven’t been. But I’ve loved every minute.
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How does your faith influence your writing or your writing influence your faith?
Both! My faith background influences my writing and my writing influences my faith. Becoming a Christian in my 30s after growing up in a Jewish family, I write from both religious traditions. I have a unique perspective that encourages acceptance and inclusion and focuses on God’s love and compassion. This year, I revised a Jewish folktale I wrote years ago. Last year (on assignment) I wrote a nonfiction book for Rockridge Press called Christian Q&A Book for Kids: 100+ Questions and Answers about God and the Bible. Even though I’ve been attending Bible study for over 30 years, I was surprised at how this book helped me. Research for this book, presenting answers in a way the target age group of 6-9 year olds could understand, strengthened my faith and understanding of both the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and New Testament as well as the basic tenets of the Christian faith.
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What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out?
Approach writing like you would learning another language. You have to learn, study, take time, spend energy. Enroll in writing courses—there are several good out there online. I taught seven years for the Institute of Children’s Literature, currently the Institute for Writers (See: https://www.instituteforwriters.com) so I’m partial to their program. Read in the genre and age group you are interested in. Try out different genres and age groups to see which one you like the best. Join a critique group. Get support. Be positive and persistent. Start small by writing for the local newspaper, smaller magazines, or nonpaying markets to build your credits. Those small successes are gold! My first sale was a Christmas poem in 1985 for a Christian teen magazine. I was paid $5. I couldn’t have been happier.
Do you have a critique group? And if so, how has that group been beneficial to your career?
Yes, I’m a member of an online critique group of four talented women writers. We met through the SCBWI “Critique Across Kansas and Missouri” event. We haven’t met in person (yet), but really connected virtually. One member lives in Spain, but is from Kansas City. I can’t tell you how much I value their feedback and support. Their insight is so valuable. They help a good story become better and a better story become publishable.
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Amy is an award-winning author of over 100 picture books mainly written on assignment for educational publishers such as Highlights and Compass (in South Korea). Amy has written fiction and nonfiction in both rhyme and prose for general market and faith-based publishers. Working as a children’s librarian and preschool teacher helped inform Amy’s writing. She was inspired to write for children as a graduate assistant in the early childhood department at Northwest Missouri State University. Amy has received poetry and prose awards from the Missouri Writers’ Guild, Moonbeam Children’s, and the Midwest Independent Publishing Association. Amy lives in Maryville, Missouri, an hour from her husband, Steve’s family farm. Amy and Steve have two grown daughters and three grandchildren.
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Christian Q&A Book for Kids: 100+ Questions and Answers about God and the Bible by Amy Houts. (Rockridge Press, 2022) ISBN: 978-1685390914.
Website: https://amyhouts.com
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FORMER Authors of the Month
Award-winning author Jody Feldman never knew she always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. But happenstance led her to a Mizzou Journalism degree and circumstances taught her she can explore anything through the characters in her books. When she’s not traveling you’ll find Jody glued to her writing desk in St. Louis, Missouri. Or watching way too much TV.
Jess Townes is a picture book author and bookseller. Jess currently works at Main Street Books in St. Charles, Missouri, where she likes to pretend she is Kathleen Kelly, minus the Upper West Side. She lives outside St. Louis with her husband, two teenagers, two cats and a sixty-pound lap dog.
Micheal Anderson is a writer, blogger, and author of the Zoey Lyndon series. She enjoys listening to jazz music, traveling abroad, and curling up with a good book. By day, she enjoys working as a recruiter for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. Micheal lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and two daughters.
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Danna Ramirez York grew up drawing in Kansas City, Missouri, and she and her husband live in the small town of Belton. Right out of high school shared her love of children by teaching preschool; they loved all the art she would do with them. You can find both of her books on Amazon.
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Amanda Flinn is a speaker, an award-winning author, and a member of SCBWI and the Heartland Writers Guild. Her books, Yoga Baby and God Made All Your Feelings, result from a childhood dream come true. To learn more about her recent writing projects, visit www.amandaflinn.com.
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Adib Khorram (he/him) is a queer Iranian-American author of award-winning fiction for young readers: the young adult novels DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY, DARIUS THE GREAT DESERVES BETTER, and KISS & TELL; and the picture book SEVEN SPECIAL SOMETHINGS: A NOWRUZ STORY. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri. adibkhorram.com
Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft and Global Book Award-Winning Author. Her debut novella series, Altered Helix, released in 2020. It hit the #1 New Release, #1 Best Seller, and other top 100 lists on Amazon. It is now being adapted to an animated story for Tales. Her debut novel, Replaced Parts, was released in 2021 through Fire & Ice YA (Melange Books imprint) and Tantor Audio. It has been in a Forbes article, hit Amazon bestseller lists, and made the Apple young adult coming soon bestsellers list. The second book in the Transformed Nexus series, Omitted Pieces, releases in 2022. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community so she tries to incorporate that into her fiction. https://www.authorstephaniehansen.com/
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Chelsea Tornetto is a picture book author, world geography teacher, and freelance editor. She lives in Jackson, Missouri with her husband, Mike, her two kids, Tessa and Milo, and a miniature dachshund named Stella. She loves snow days, lattes, and summer. She hates spiders, her sinuses, and laundry.
Refe and Susan live in Kansas City with their four children and a herd of plastic dinosaurs. The Tumas began cataloguing their dinosaurs’ antics in 2012, creating Dinovember and igniting the imaginations of hundreds of thousands of children–young and old–across the world. Refe and Susan are the authors of the What the Dinosaurs Did picture book series, including What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night, What the Dinosaurs Did At School, and What the Dinosaurs Did on the Night Before Christmas.
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Violet Lemay is an illustrator and author whose clients include HarperCollins, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Highlights, Penguin, Scholastic, Holt, and duopress. Violet’s work has won awards, being selected for various illustration annuals including The Society of Illustrators LA, RSVP, and American Illustration 20, 21 and 32. Violet is proudly represented by MB Artists .
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Brian Gehrlein lives in Liberty, Missouri with his wife, Katherine, and their two boys. The Book of Rules is his first picture book. Brian does his best to follow the rules and has (so far) avoided being eaten. He hopes this trend continues.
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Michelle I. Mason is the author of Your Life Has Been Delayed (9/21) and My Second Impression of You (9/22). Michelle spent ten years in public relations promoting everything from forklift rodeos to Hotel Olympics before deciding she’d rather focus on made-up stories. She lives in St. Louis with her family and pets.
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Carrie Beamer is a Kansas City, Missouri author who writes Young Adult Contemporary. She’s a high school registrar who fills her nights with writing and reading into the wee hours. Her weekends are spent hanging out with her two sons and trying to tame a couple of obnoxious rescued dogs, and life couldn’t be better. Her main internet traffic is via a bookstagram account on instagram https://www.instagram.com/clbeamer/
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A former classroom teacher and homeschool mom
, Kathy Perry has a heart for educating kids and teens. Through her own publishing company, Chickadee Words, LLC she makes it her mission to affect today’s youth through wonderful stories full of timeless character struggles.
Beth Bacon is an creator of books for young readers. Her books I Hate Reading and The Book No One Wants To Read bring humor to the experiences of struggling readers. Her book Covid-19 Helpers offers children a clear understanding of the global pandemic. Beth volunteers for Open Hearts Big Dreams, an organization dedicated to improving literacy in Ethiopia. Beth has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She also has a MA in Media Ecology from New York University and a BA in Literature from Harvard University.
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Dave Cole is from St. Louis, Missouri. He’s done everything from missile guidance systems to teaching college computer science classes to designing data center monitoring tools for Facebook to starting two tech companies. He’s always been an avid reader and loves to write. His wife is happy he’s found something to enjoy that doesn’t cost her money!
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Bridget Heos is the author of the MUSTACHE BABY and STEGOTHESAURUS series and more than 100 nonfiction and fiction books for kids. She offers school visits—virtual and in-person—throughout the country. Her home base is Kansas City, where she lives with her family.
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Born and raised in the Midwest, Amber Hendricks grew up reading everything she could get her hands on. Amber has worn many hats in her career but she has always circled back to her first love of telling stories. Amber currently resides in Missouri with her husband and two children.
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Niki Lenz lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband and two
adorable children. She studied elementary education at Southwest Baptist University and taught kindergarten for six years. Niki enjoys reading, travel, glamping, polka dots, red lipstick, and oldies music. She is the author of BERNICE BUTTMAN, MODEL CITIZEN and THE STEPMOM SHAKE-UP, both middle grade fiction.
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David Harrison lives with his wife Sandy in Springfield, Missouri (where he was born). Empowering Students’ Knowledge of Vocabulary is his 100th book, 13 for classroom teachers and 87 for young readers: 41 fiction, 26 nonfiction, and 20 poetry.
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Alastair Heim is the author of the picture books IF I HAD YOUR VOTE – BY THE CAT IN THE HAT for Dr. Seuss Beginner Books from Random House, LOVE YOU TOO, NO TOOTING AT TEA, THE GREAT PUPPY INVASION, HELLO DOOR, and the upcoming QUIET DOWN LOUD TOWN. He lives in Kansas City and is represented by Kelly Sonnack of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
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Ann Parr believes writing is about making connections between what writers know and what readers want to read. She makes links between interesting people and unusual events with her nonfiction stories. To find out more about this Kansas City author, visit annparrwriter.com.
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Lindsay H. 
Metcalf is a journalist and author of nonfiction picture books: Beatrix Potter, Scientist (Albert Whitman & Company, 2020); Farmers Unite! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices (Calkins Creek, November 2020); and No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History (Charlesbridge, 2020).
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Taylor Morris is a novelist, ghostwriter, and editor. She is the author of more than twenty books, from fiction to non-fiction, and from children’s books to women’s romance. Taylor lives with her husband in Lawrence, Kansas.
Amanda Flinn is an award-winning author, blogger, and book nerd. Her debut board book, Yoga Baby, was released in June from Beaming Books. She lives in Jackson, Missouri, with her husband, three boys, two rowdy rescue pups, and a pair of furry chinchillas.
Shannon A. Thompson is the best-selling author of the Timely Death trilogy and the Bad Bloods series. Shannon lives with her gremlins, I mean cats, in Kansas City, MO.
Dorinda Nicholson writes World War II, MG and YA, non-fiction books. Dorinda lives in Raytown, MO where she writes, and is now the care giver for her husband. Besides writing, she has also worked as a psychotherapist.
Rebecca Koehn writes picture books and books for middle grade readers. Her new picture book, AFTER THE RAIN, is the perfect welcome to spring! Rebecca lives in Southwest Kansas with her husband and their two sons.
Ann Ingalls has written four dozen books for young readers. Her book, J IS FOR JAZZ, won Graphic Design USA’s 2015 Award and the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation’s “A Book Just for Me!” Ann is a former elementary and special education teacher. Ann lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband, Winston.
S. J. Bushue (Sherry) is the author of Dinosaurs Count and the founder of The Little Fig publisher and packager. Sherry loves life in the Midwest which includes family, friends, fur-babies, water activities, warm summer nights, and frogs. She lives in the Kansas City metro area.
Angela Cervantes is an award-winning author of contemporary middle-grade fiction published by Scholastic. She started writing stories, featuring Latino characters, which were about her friends and her community, when she was nine years old. Her newest novel, Lety Out Loud, was published earlier this year and received starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal. It was named one of the best books for kids in 2019 by Kirkus Review and the New York Public Library.
Jennifer Adam is an author of middle grade and young adult fantasy. Her first novel for upper middle grade, THE LAST WINDWITCH, will be released from HarperCollins in 2021. Jennifer lives on a third-generation family farm in Vandalia, Missouri with her husband, two wild mustangs, and a collection of barn cats.
Sharon Mayhew‘s first book for middle grade readers, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, CHILDREN, was released last month. Her first picture book, THE JUNK COLLECTOR, will be published by Guardian Angel Publishing. She currently resides in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri with her husband and daughter.
Tonja Drecker writes Middle Grade and Young Adult fantasy. Her stories have been published in several collections and magazines. Her debut novel MUSIC BOXES is a slightly dark, modern day fairy tale for the middle grade audience, was released in March this year by Dancing Lemur Press.
Jessica Marie Baumgartner, writes fiction and non-fiction for children. Her work has been published in several children’s magazines including Guardian Angel Kids e-zine, Kid’s Imagination Train, and Spaceports & Spidersilk. Her picture book, The Golden Rule, was published by Eleventh Hour Literary Press.
Lorri Cardwell-Casey. Besides being the mother of ‘six’ children, counting her son-in-law and daughter in-law, Lorri has worked as a daycare center director, tutor, and instructor for The Institute of Children’s Literature. She enjoys helping clients improve their own writing with her critique company, RE:VISION Critiques.
Scott Emmons has always loved fun rhymes, and especially loved Dr. Seuss as a child. He is the author of StoryBots Step Into Reading books published by Random House. Scott currently works as a Senior Editor on the Kids Greetings team at Hallmark.
Niki Lenz is a middle grade author, and lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband and children. Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen is her first novel, released from Random House in March 2019.
Jenn Bailey writes picture books, middle grade and young adult novels. Jenn’s newest book, A Friend for Henry, is a picture book that come out in February 2019 (Chronicle Books).
Lisa Harkrader is the author of humorous fiction for middle grade readers. She is also an artist and graphic designer. Lisa’s newest book, Crumbled!, is the first book in a middle grade series from Yellow Jacket (Little Bee Books).
Ben McClanahan has worked for newspapers and trade magazines, but whether it’s non-fiction or fiction, his love is writing for children. He is the author of two non-fiction educational books and his newest book, We Need Plankton (The Animal Files), was released from Focus Readers last month.
Randi Hacker has worked as a personal assistant to the stars, publisher, educator, librarian, author and video store clerk. She was the editor of The Electric Company Magazine published by Children’s Television Workshop. Her essays and articles have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, Punch and Spy. She is currently the Education Outreach Coordinator at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.
Molly McCluskey-Shipman writes picture books for children. Her first picture book, Emma’s Dilemma (Goldminds Publishing), received an honorable mention in the Purple Dragonfly Book Award. Her picture book Festeva’s Holiday Cheer was released last month from Lift Bridge Publishing. In addition to writing for children Molly has written various manuals and articles for nonprofit organizations and she is active in the Great Plains SPCA.
Amber Hendricks grew up reading everything she could get her hands on, including the morning cereal boxes. That passion melded into writing, and by the age of 11 she was writing and binding her own “books.” Amber earned her degree in merchandising, and over the years has worn many hats. Those include army wife, mother, visual merchandiser, certified pharmacy technician, and childcare professional. But she has always circled back to her first love of telling stories. Sophie and Little Star is her first book for children.
Adib Khorram works as a graphic designer, videographer, projectionist, and more for live events in and around the Kansas City area and nationwide. When he’s not working at his day job, he writes contemporary fiction for young adults.Darius the Great Is Not Okayis his first published book for young readers. It received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly and was selected as a 2018 BEA Young Adult Buzz Book. You can read more about Adib and his books on his website at www.adibkhorram.com/.
Billie Holladay Skelley is the author of children’s books from picture books through young adult, as well as articles, stories, essays and poetry for adults. Her books for young readers have earned awards such as the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, the Purple Dragonfly Award, and the Missouri Writers’ Guild Best Juvenile Book Award. Her latest book, Ollie the Autism-Support Collie, was released this year in June. Billie is a retired registered nurse who now enjoys focusing her time on her writing. You can read more about Billie and her books on her website at www.bhskelley.com or contact her at bhskelley24@gmail.com.
Roberta Lynne Roelfs has always loved reading, and she has been writing stories and poems since she was in the first grade. Today she writes for children under the name R. Lynne Roelfs. Roberta is the author of a magazine story inspired by her dog, Duncan, and has published fiction and nonfiction passages for the educational testing market.You can read more about Roberta and her work on her website at www.rlynneroelfs.com and follow her at twitter @RLynneRoelfs
Constance Levy felt poetry was ‘love at first sound.’ She has been writing poetry since first grade and is still writing today. Her poetry has earned many awards, including a Lee Bennett Hopkins Award and honor award, a Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Award, the National Council of Teachers of English Notable Books in Language Arts, and others. You can find out more about Constance and her books on her website at http://www.constancelevy.com/.
Jan Greenberg combines her passion for art, literature and writing to write award-winning books about art and artists for young readers. Some of her awards include: the American Library Association Notable Book Award, the International Reading Association Teachers’ Choice Award, the Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Award, the Seibert Honor Award, and the Printz Honor Award. You can find out more about Jan and her books on her website at Jangreenbergsandrajordan.com.
Alastair Heim writes picture books for young children, including THE GREAT PUPPY INVASION published by HMH/Clarion and HELLO DOORpublished by little bee. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and three children. You can find out more about Alastair and his books on his website www.alastairheim.com and you can connect with him on twitter at www.twitter.com/alastairheim
Lori Galaske writes for children from the picture book age to middle grade and teens. Her short stories and articles have been published in teen magazines and in anthologies, and she writes an inspirational blog for adults. Her first picture book, THE ALPHABET FOREST, was published by Guardian Angel Publishing in 2017. You can learn more about Lori and her book and her writing on her website at www.lorigalaske.com. Find her on facebook at www.facebook.com/kidlitlife/ and follow her on twitter at @lgalaske.
Carol Murray writes poetry and non-fiction for young readers. Her books for children include Rookie Reader books and storybooks with stickers, as well as having her poetry published in Highlights magazine and in anthologies. Her newest book, CRICKET IN THE THICKET, was released in 2017. You can find out more about Carol and her work at www.carolmurray.net
Jonathan Schkade writes religious books for children, books with titles like Icky Sticky, Hairy Scary Bible Stories and Not-So-Nice Bible Stories: Master Criminals. He has published a dozen books for young readers in the religious market. He also writes picture books, MG, and YA for the general market. www.jonathanschkade.com
Nicki Jacobsmeyer’s stories have been published in Saturday Writers anthologies (Missouri Writer’s Guild), and her book, CHESTERFIELD was published by Arcadia Publishing. Her first children’s book, SURVIVING THE IDITAROD: An Interactive Extreme Sports Adventure, was released by Capstone Press in August. You can find out more about Nicki and her books on her website at https://www.nickijacobsmeyer.com/about.
Vicki Berger Erwin has worked as a children’s book buyer and a sales rep for Scholastic, and she and her husband owned the independent bookstore, Main Street Books, in St. Charles, MO for seven years. She is the author of many books for children, including SCOOBY DOO AND YOU, as well as some single Scooby Doo titles. She was also a ghostwriter for several popular girls’ book series. DIFFERENT DAYS, is historical fiction for middle grade readers, and was released this month by SkyPony Press. You can find out more about Vicki and her books on her website at www.vickibergererwin.comz
Laura S. Schmidt writes contemporary fiction and mysteries for young adults. Her first novel, SWEETER THAN LIFE, was published in 2015. Laura has worked as a community education coordinator, and has spent several years as a staff counselor at an agency that supports children and adults with developmental disabilities. You can find out more about Laura and her books on her website at www.laurastewartschmidt.com
Jessica Shaw writes for children from the picture book age through young adult, including poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Her work has been published in several magazines for children as well as doing work-for-hire projects. She received a Letter of Merit from the SCBWI 2016 Magazine Merit Award committee for her poem My Favorite Sounds, published in Ladybug, May 2015. You can find out more about Jessica and her books on her website at www.authorjessicashaw.comz
Patricia A. Miller writes picture books, including nonfiction, historical fiction, and fiction, and she has written several board book manuscripts as well. She has had two nonfiction magazine articles published in Highlights for Children magazine. Her latest article is “A Century of Blossoms,” which appears in the April 2017 issue of Highlights. You can find out more about Patricia and her writing on her website at www.patriciamillerbooks.com.
Clare Vanderpool writes adventure and historical fiction for middle grade readers. Her book Moon Over Manifest won the 2011 Newbery Award, and her newest book, Navigating Early, was a 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Visit her website to find out more about Clare and her books at www.clarevanderpool.com
Claire M. Caterer has been a freelance writer and editor for more than a dozen years. Her short fiction for adults has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Woman’s World. She lives in Shawnee, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. Find more about Claire and her books on her website at http://www.clairecaterer.com/
Sue Lowell Gallion writes picture books, early readers and chapter books for children from her home in Leawood, Kansas. She is the former Regional Advisor for Kansas SCBWI, and is currently Co-Regional Advisor with Kim Piddington for Kansas/Missouri SCBWI. Sue has been published in children’s magazines and educational publishing. PUG MEETS PIG, released in September 2016 from Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster), is her first picture book. You can find out more about Sue on her website at www.suegallion.com
Lisa Wade McCormick has written eighteen non-fiction books for children, and her stories have appeared in several children’s magazines. Besides being a children’s book author, Lisa is an award-winning investigative journalist with more than 20 years experience as a newspaper reporter and television producer. She is currently the investigative producer at WDAF-TV in Kansas City. You can find out more about Lisa and her books on her website at www.lisawademccormick.com
Rita Arens is the author of the contemporary realistic young adult novel, THE OBVIOUS GAME (InkSpell Publishing, 2013), a 2016 Library Journal Self-e Selection. Rita is also the editor of a parenting anthology, SLEEP IS FOR THE WEEK (Chicago Review Press), winner of a 2009 gold National Parenting Publications award (NAPPA) and winner of an honorable mention in the 2012 New York Book Festival. You can find our more about Rita and her books at www.ritaarens.com
Patricia J. Norton is the author of phonics-based beginning readers and narrative non-fiction for children. In 2006, she started a new publishing house, Short Vowel Phonics, to provide phonics-controlled short stories for beginning and struggling readers. You can find our more about Patricia and her books at http://shortvowelphonics.com/phonics/
Amy Houts, Maryville, MO, is a freelance writer and former instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. She enjoys writing fiction and nonfiction books on assignment for educational publishers, as well as 
working on her own projects. She is the author of over 60 books, many for young children ages 3 to 7. You can find out more about Amy and her books on her website, www.amyhouts.com, or follow her blog at http://www.houtsandhome.com/amys-blog.
PEGGY ARCHER, O’Fallon, MO, loves to talk to students and adults about writing and her books. Readers can learn more about her author presentations on her website at www.peggyarcher.com. They can also check out her author blog, Peggy’s Pages, at http://www.peggyarcher.com/blog.htm. NAME THAT DOG! ( Dial Books for Young Readers, ISBN# 978-0-8037-3322-0) is also available through Scholastic Book Club and Scholastic Book Fairs.
JANIE CHEANEY is the author of novels for middle-grade readers. Her book, THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, was named a 2008 Kansas Notable Book by the Kansas State Library. Janie is also a senior writer for WORLD Magazine and co-publisher of RedeemedReader.com.
HOLLY SCHINDLER‘s first two published works, A Blue So Dark and Playing Hurt, were both YA novels. Her debut MG, The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky, released with Dial / Penguin on February 6, 2014, and her next YA, Feral, is forthcoming from HarperCollins. Find out more at hollyschindler.com
BRIDGET HEOS is the author of Mustache Baby (Houghton Mifflin, May 2013, ISBN-13: 978-0547773575) She lives in Kansas City with her husband and four children. Check out her Facebook page, Author Bridget Heos, or website www.authorbridgetheos.com for updates!
BONNIE HINMAN writes non-fiction books for children. She lives with her husband in Joplin, MO, close to their children and grandchildren. You can find out more about Bonnie and her books at http://www.bonniehinman.com.
SHANNON MOORE is the former Assistant Regional Advisor for Missouri SCBWI. You can find out more about Shannon on her blog, Great Books for Children, where she reviews children’s books. http://greatbooksforchildren.com/index.php/about/.
JODY FELDMAN lives in St. Louis where she writes middle-grade contemporary novels for young readers. The first book in her series, The Gollywhopper Games, was an ALA/YALSA Best Books for Young Adults nominee, and received the Midwest Bookseller’s Choice Award Honor Book for Children’s Literature. The second book in the series, The Gollywhopper Games: The New Champion, recently made the St. Louis Post Dispatch Best Sellers list for kids’ books. http://jodyfeldman.com
NANCY POLETTE of O’Fallon, MO is the author of picture books, fiction and non-fiction for middle grade readers, and has four easy readers coming out this year. Nancy is a former teacher of students in K through 
8th grades, and is currently a professor of education at Lindenwood University where she teaches Children’s Literature.
ANN INGALLS was born in Cleveland, grew up in Detroit, and now lives with her husband and three children in Kansas City. You can find out more about her and her books, including J is for Jazz, on her website at: http://anningallswrites.com/ann-ingalls/
Two of her short stories published in the quarterly writers’ journal, The Storyteller, received a People’s Choice Award for 
1st Place in Fiction. You can find out more about Cynthia and her writing on her website at www.cynthia-collins.com, and you can contact her at stories.ccollins@cynthia-collins.com
KRISTIN BAIRD RATTINI, Foristell, Missouri, is a freelance writer who has written for children’s magazines for 17 years, Kristin has enjoyed the challenge of introducing young readers to a wide range of topics and the thrill of hooking their attention with writing that’s both educational and entertaining. You can find out more about Kristin and her books at: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kristin-rattini/5/900/33a and MediaBistro: http://www.mediabistro.com/fm/PD.asp?user_id=6628
MARGO L. DILL, of St. Louis, Missouri, is the SCBWI Missouri webmaster and a children’s and YA author. She currently has three books out: Maggie Mae, Detective Extrordinaire: The Case of the Missing Cookies (picture book), Finding My Place (middle grade), and Caught Between Two Curses (young adult). She is also a freelance editor and writing teacher. Find out more at http://www.margodill.com
SUE BRADFORD EDWARDS writes from her home in Florissant, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and son. You can find out more about Sue and her work on her website at www.suebradfordedwards.com, and on her blog, https://suebe.wordpress.com/
VEDA BOYD JONES is the author of 47 books and over 500 articles and short stories. She writes children’s picture books and middle grade novels, fiction and non-fiction, and has been published in children’s magazines. She also writes romance novels for adults. Find out more about Veda and her books on her website at www.vedaboydjones.com
Cynthia Reeg‘s books have been published by Guardian Angel Publishing, and her work has been published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers. Her newest book, BUNNY BUSINESS, was released from Guardian Angel Publishing in September 2014. http://www.cynthiareeg.com/index.html
STEPHANIE BEARCE is the author of non-fiction for children and she also writes middle grade fiction. She is a past SCBWI Regional Advisor and is a full member of the Missouri Writers Guild and American Christian Fiction Writers. Find out more at www.stephaniebearce.com
BARBARA STUBER, from Kansas City, brings visual art and writing together as she weaves artwork into her stories for young adults. Her latest book, Girl in Reverse, was an NPR (National Public Radio) pick for the Best Books of 2014 in five categories. Her earlier book, Crossing the Tracks, was an ALA Wm. C. Morris Award Finalist in 2010. Find out more at http://www.barbarastuber.com
JEANIE FRANZ RANSOM, from O’Fallon, Missouri, sold her first story to Seventeen magazine when she was a teen, and has been writing ever since. She is an award-winning author of children’s picture books, and her books have received starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly. She is also a former elementary school counselor. Find out more at www.jeanieransom.com
Jody Jensen Shaffer is an award-winning poet and the author of more than 70 books of fiction and nonfiction for children, including PRUDENCE THE PART-TIME COW, a Missouri Show Me Award finalist for 2020, A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, IT’S YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUSY BUS!, an Amazon best-seller and Amazon Prime Book Box pick for September 2019, IT’S A FIELD TRIP, BUSY BUS!, EMERGENCY KITTENS!, WHO IS JACKIE CHAN? and more. Jody’s poetry and fiction have been published in magazines like Highlights, Ladybug, and Clubhouse Jr. You can find Jody online at jodyjensenshaffer.com and on Twitter @jodywrites4kids.
ANOLA PICKET is a former teacher and school librarian and writes historical novels for middle grade readers. She is also the author of an I-Can-Read book for younger readers, and co-author of a book for teachers and parents, Multiple Intelligences and Positive Life Habits. Anola lives in Kansas City but loves to travel and finds ideas and inspiration in her travels. You can find out more about Anola and her books 
at www.anolapickett.com, or meet her on Twitter at anolamarie.
AMY SKLANSKY, University City, is a former editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, Amy writes picture books and board books, and is the author of children’s fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Her books have 
received many awards including the Bankstreet College of Education Best Books of the Year, Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association and Children’s Book Council, and have appeared on the St. Louis Independent Bestsellers list. You can read more about Amy at: www.amysklansky.com.
CATHY GILMORE, St. Louis, is a picture book author, and freelance editor. Her goal is to help children discover the joy of God’s love through her books. A Certified Catechist of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, she creates stories that bring the gospel to life for children. Her newest book, LITTLE LAMB FINDS CHRISTMAS, won the 2015 USA Best Books Award in the Children’s Religious books category. Read more about Cathy and her books on her website at www.catherinecgilmore.com.