Faculty Bios for Conference

NJ SCBWI 2012 CONFERENCE

BIOS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

DiCAMILLO, Kate – Author

Kate DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia, raised in Florida, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minn. Her books for children include: Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor Book), The Tiger Rising (a National Book Award finalist), The Tale of Despereaux (a Newbery Medal Book), the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson Series, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (a #1 New York Times bestseller), Great Joy, (a New York Times best-selling picture book), her second picture book, Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken, The Magician’s Elephant, Bink and Gollie, written in collaboration with Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile.

The feature film inspired by The Tale of Despereaux reached theaters worldwide in December 2008. The film rights to The Magician’s Elephant have also been sold.

In addition to writing, Kate sponsors the Herman W. Block Memorial Scholarship for the Hamline MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

MELTZER, Steve – Assoc. Publisher/Editor PB, MG, YA

No: Poetry, Easy Readers/Chapter Books, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, or Historical Fiction

Steve Meltzer has been in publishing industry for over 25 years and has served in a variety of positions and has been on many committees. Steve is the editor of many books for young readers including John Madden’s Heroes of Football:The Story of America’s Game; The Sydney Taylor award-winning, Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Greg Harlin; The Every Cowgirl series by Rebecca Janni, illustrated by Lynne Avril; The Worst of Friends (an SLJ Best Book of the Year) by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain, illustrated by Larry Day; Useful Fools by C.A. Schmidt (a Booklist Best Book of the Year) and The Boy with Pink Hair by Perez Hilton, illustrated by Jen Hill. His series include Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol and the Dutton Winnie-the-Pooh books.

YACCARINO, Dan – Author/Illustrator  Critiques: PB Manuscripts or Dummies, Art Portfolio

Dan Yaccarino is anartist, writer, and producer who has created many children’s books and commercial illustrations as well as his own animated television series. He has exhibited his work in galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Rome.

Dan has written and illustrated over thirty children’s books, most notably, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Every Friday and Go Go America. His bold, stylized illustrations add wit and energy to the work of such prestigious authors as Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin Henkes and Patricia MacLachlan in addition to his own stories.

AGENTS, EDITORS & ART DIRECTORS 

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ALEXANDER, Heather – Editor PB through YA.  NO:  Rhyme, Poetry, or NF

Heather Alexander has been with Dial for four years.  Her most recent titles include My Family for the War by Anne Voorhoeve and Circle of Cranes by Annette LeBox.  She is looking forward to the release of her first thriller, Nerve.  Heather edits the Charlie and Lola series, and loves quirky, authentic kid characters like Lola.  She’s always on the lookout for unique voice, a great hook, and a new angle.  She’s looking for funny books for all ages, scary or suspenseful YA, and heartwarming middle-grade.  If it has a heist or a crime family, all the better.  She leans toward boy-books with girl appeal.

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BENDER, Lionel – Editor/Author – Nonfiction

Lionel Bender is Co-Founder and Editorial Partner of UK-based book packager Bender Richardson White (BRW) and of MJL Digital Publishing. BRW creates, develops, and produces children’s illustrated nonfiction and educational materials for publishers in the UK and across North America. It regularly commissions SCBWI authors. MJL Digital Publishing produces self-guided walks in London for online delivery. Lionel is also the author of 65 children’s illustrated science and natural history books and a regular visitor to major book fairs in the US and internationally.

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CLARK, Ginger – Agent – Easy Readers/Chapter Books, MG, YA, Nonfiction, including Fantasy, Edgy, and Historical Fiction

Ginger Clark has been a literary agent with Curtis Brown LTD since 2005. She represents fiction for both adults and children. She also represents British rights for the agency’s children’s list, and attends the Bologna and Frankfurt Book Fairs every year. Previously, she worked at Writers House as an assistant literary agent, and at Tor Books as an editorial assistant. She sits on the Rights Committee of the Book Industry Study Group, and is a member of the Contracts Committee of the AAR. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and lives in Brooklyn.

CLARKE, Erin – Executive Editor – PB, Board Books, MG, YA, Nonfiction. No: Fantasy, Little Edgy.

Erin Clarke is an executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers. She edits books for all age levels from board books for very young children to young adult novels for teenagers and adult readers. Authors and illustrators with whom she works include Markus Zusak, Julia Alvarez, Adele Griffin, RJ Palacio, Erica Perl, Anita Lobel, Meghan McCarthy, and Selina Alko.

Erin lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three-year-old daughter. She enjoys reading, reading, reading, and occasionally running.

COOPER, Alexandra – Sr. Editor – PB, MG, YA.  NO: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Nonfiction

Alexandra Cooper is Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, where she works on hardcover trade picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult novels. Some of her titles include Wither and Fever by Lauren DeStefano; Huge by Sasha Paley, which was the basis for the ABC Family T.V. series starring Nikki Blonsky; the Mother-Daughter Book Club series by Heather Vogel Frederick, and the #1 New York Times Bestseller Barack Obama by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Bryan Collier. She is always seeking that elusive mix of page-turning plot and engaging voice, and particularly open to speculative fiction and magic-infused novels (both YA and middle-grade) at the moment.  

CUMMINS, Lucy – Art Director  

Lucy Ruth Cummins is an associate art director with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers where she works on a range of titles from picture books to young adult novels. In October 2010 she made her picture book illustration debut with a parody of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree titled The Taking Tree. She has worked on a number of award winning picture books including Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope, Guess Again, and The Boys. She is the designer behind best-selling novels such as Hush, Hush, The Monstrumologist, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Belly Up. She has never met a French fry she didn’t like.

CUSICK, John – Agent – All Genres including PB & Especially Author/Illustrators. Loves Historical and Edgy Fiction

Agent at S©ottTreimelNY. John is author of the young adult novel Girl Parts  (Candlewick Press, 2010), and the forthcoming Cherry Money Baby. He is also a managing and founding editor of Armchair/Shotgun, a Brooklyn-based literary magazine. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007 where he wrote his first novel on a SmithCorona Electric (now kaput). He lives in Brooklyn with his girlfriend and their imaginary cat, Garrus.

While the Scott Treimel Agency accepts the gamut of juvenile genres, John’s personal genres of interest are Middle Grade, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, and even better if any of these has an edgy voice.

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DAMKOEHLER, Katrina – Art Director

Katrina is Assistant Art Director at Sterling Children’s Books. She designs and art directs a wide range of titles—including picture books, board books, novelty books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels. At Sterling, she has helped to define the look of the recently launched YA imprint, Splinter, as well as working on existing series and many original picture books. She is excited by illustration styles that have distinct personalities, and loves working with artists and designers to build an engaging visual space for the words of a story.

DAVIES, Sarah – Agent – Chapter Book series aimed at 5+ through MG to YA/crossover novels.

Agent Sarah Davies heads the North American side of Greenhouse Literary, based in Washington, D.C. Sarah has more than 25 years’ experience in children’s publishing, moving to the USA from London in 2007. She started her career at Collins (before it was HarperCollins), followed by a spell at Transworld/Random House. In 1994 she joined Macmillan Children’s Books in London as Fiction Editor, rising through the editorial ranks to Publishing Director (and member of the Management Board), a position she held until 2007 when she left to start Greenhouse.

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FLEISSIG,Liza – Agent – All Genres PB through YA

Liza Fleissig, with her partner GingeHarris-Dontzin, opened the Liza Royce Agency (LRA) in early 201. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business with a BS in Finance, and the Benjamin N. Cadozo School of Law with a JD, Liza brings 20 years of litigation and negotiating experience to the field.

On the children’s side of publishing, being a mother to a preschooler girl and a pre-teen boy, she is interested in everything from picture books to middle grade and young adult.

LRA has a lag adult based clientele from both established authors to writers in the earlier stages of their development. Although  they lean towards suspense/thriller, commercial woman’s fiction and comedy, they are open to anything that speaks to them, in the past to include historical fiction, true crime and memoirs.

FRASER, Stephen – Agent – Genres, PB Through YA

Stephen Fraser joined the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency as an agent in January 2005. With more than 25 years in publishing, he most recently worked at HarperCollins Children’s Books, where he edited such creative talents as Mary Engelbreit, Gregory Maguire, Michael Hague, Ann Rinaldi, Brent Hartinger, and Dan Gutman. He began his career at Highlights for Children and later worked at Scholastic and Simon & Schuster. A graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, he has a Master’s degree in Children’s Literature from Simmons College in Boston. He represents both children’s and adult books in a wide range of genres.

Currently, he’s looking for children’s books for every age – picture books, chapter books, middle-grade, and young adult.

FRAZER, Rebecca – Executive Director – MG & YA

Rebecca Frazer, formerly Acquisitions Editor at Sourcebooks, has joined the Hachette Group as Editorial Director at Orchard Books in London. Her focus is on acquiring Middle Grade and Young Adult novels.

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GRIFFIN, Regina – Executive Editor – Easy Readers/Chapter Books, MG, YA—including Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy & Edgy.  NO: Nonfiction or PB

Regina Griffin is the Executive Editor of EgmontUSA, where she acquires Middle Grade and Young Adult, historical fiction, fantasy, paranormal, edgy contemporary fiction and graphic novels. At Egmont she has acquired such titles as the YA paranormal romance, The Dark Divine, the hilarious middle-grade book, Vordak the Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the World; both of these books came out of meetings at the New Jersey SCBWI Conference in Princeton. Also, the humorous middle grade titled, Leaving the Bellweathers, the historical novel Riot and the picture book Looking Like Me by Newbery Honor-winning New Jerseyan, Walter Dean Myers, the paranormals, Siren and Raised by Wolves, and the Wish You Were Dead thrillogy by Todd Strasser.

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HARRIS, Ginger – Agent – All Genres PB through YA

Ginger Harris-Dontzin, with her partner Liza Fleissig, opened the Liza Royce Agency (LRA) in early 2011. A graduate of Boston University with a BA 1984 and Nova Southeaster University, Shepard Broad Law Center Law School with a JD, Ginger brings 20 years of litigation and negotiating experience to the field.

On the children’s side of publishing, being a mother to a preschooler boy, she is interested in everything from picture books, to middle grade and young adult. LRA also has a large adult based clientele from both established authors to writers in the earlier stages of their development. Although they lean towards suspense/thriller, commercial woman’s fiction and comedy, they are open to anything that speaks to them, in the past to include historical fiction, true crime and memoirs.  

HAWK, Susan – Agent – PB, Chapter Books, MG, YA, fiction & nonfiction.

Agent at The Bent Agency.  Susan worked for over 15 years in marketing children’s books, most recently as the Marketing Director at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, and previously as the Library Marketing Director at Penguin Young Readers Group.  While at Penguin, she also worked for a time in Dutton Editorial, acquiring books for their list.

Susan handles books for children exclusively: picture books, chapter books, middle grade and YA, fiction and non-fiction. In middle-grade and YA, she’s looking for something that makes her laugh out loud, She’s a sucker for bittersweet, and she can’t resist a character that comes to understand how perfectly imperfect the world is. She wants a book to stay with her long after she finishes reading it, and she’s looking for powerful, original writing. She’s open to mystery, scifi, humor, boy books, historical, contemporary (really any genre). Her favorite projects live at the intersection of literary and commercial. In non-fiction she’s looking for books that relate to kid’s daily lives and their concerns with the world. In picture books, she’s looking particularly for author-illustrators, succinct but expressive texts, and characters as indelible as her childhood favorites Ferdinand, Madeline, George and Martha.

HSU, Connie – Sr. Editor – PB (Quirky), MG, YA, Graphic Novels, High Fantasy, Literary Nonfiction.

NO: Poetry, Rhyme, Easy Readers/Chapter Books, Historical Fiction or Urban Fantasy

Editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Connie has edited everything from board books to YA, such as Snowflake Baby by Elise Broach, The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, a Booklist Editor’s Choice, and Winter Town and Happyface, illustrated YA novels by comic book creator Stephen Emond. Her upcoming picture books include a Booker T. Washington biography by Jabari Asim and illustrated by Bryan Collier, Crankenstein by Samantha Berger and illustrated by Dan Santat, and Does a Feather Remember? by Nina Laden and illustrated by Renata Liwska. She’s also currently working on the following novels: Write This Book by Pseudonymous Bosch, author of The Secret Series, a new middle grade by Diana Lopez, and a new YA novel by Ransom Riggs, the author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

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MARINO, Krista – Executive Editor – MG, YA,   NO: Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, or Poetry

Krista Marino is an Executive Editor at Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s Books) where she acquires and edits Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. She is always looking for strong new voices, innovative concepts, and great stories for her list. She doesn’t do cute—she’s more on the darker edge of fiction (she has not been buying much of lighter fare lately), but she does like works with comedy in them. Many of the works she’s edited in the last few years are trilogies or series, she is now looking for amazing stand-alone books. Recent books she has edited include King Dork by Frank Portman, The Alchemyst, The Magician, and The Sorceress in “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel” series by Michael Scott, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

MCCARTHY, Sean – Agent – PB through YA 

Agent at Sheldon Fogelman Agency. Sean works on children’s books for all ages at the Sheldon Fogelman Agency in NYC.  His clients include Zachariah O’Hora, Hyewon Yum, Mark Fearing and Hillary Homzie.  He is drawn to flawed, multi-faceted characters with devastatingly concise writing in YA, and boy-friendly mysteries or adventures in MG.  In picture books, he looks more for unforgettable characters, off-beat humor, and especially clever endings.   He is actively looking for new clients, but he is not currently interested in high fantasy, message-driven stories, or query letters that pose too many questions.

McGHEE, Holly – Agent/Author – MG, YA, Fiction & Non-Fiction

Pippin Properties. After a twelve-year career in book publishing, with positions ranging from assistant to advertising-and-promotion director to executive editor, Holly M. McGhee founded Pippin Properties, Inc., an agency devoted to the management and representation of the finest authors and artists at work today. Her fascination with making books began in 1991, when she was appointed Associate Publisher for Michael di Capua’s imprint at HarperCollins.

MELTZER, Steve – Dial/Dutton, Assoc. Publisher/Editor PB, MG, YA   No: Poetry, Easy Readers/Chapter Books, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, or Historical Fiction

Steve Meltzer has been in publishing industry for over 25 years and has served in a variety of positions and has been on many committees. Steve is the editor of many books for young readers including John Madden’s Heroes of Football:The Story of America’s Game; The Sydney Taylor award-winning, Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Greg Harlin; The Every Cowgirl series by Rebecca Janni, illustrated by Lynne Avril; The Worst of Friends (an SLJ Best Book of the Year) by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain, illustrated by Larry Day; Useful Fools by C.A. Schmidt (a Booklist Best Book of the Year) and The Boy with Pink Hair by Perez Hilton, illustrated by Jen Hill. His series include Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol and the Dutton Winnie-the-Pooh books.

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NAYERI, Daniel – Author/Editor – PB, Easy Readers/Chapter Books, MG, YA Fiction   NO: Nonfiction, Rhyme or Edgy

Daniel Nayeri is an editor at Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He is interested in picture books, novels, and graphic novels. Daniel is the author of Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow, published by Candlewick Press. Before that he worked as a professional pastry chef and a stuntman.

He teaches a senior-level intensive undergrad course for the New York Center for Arts & Media Studies every Fall semester titled, “Publishing and Getting Published.”

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ONDER, Catherine – Sr. Editor – PB, MG, YA   NO: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Nonfiction, or Easy Readers/Chapter Books

Senior Editor, Disney-Hyperion. Catherine focuses on teen and tween novels and also edits some picture books. Authors she works with include Geraldine McCaughrean, Jenny Valentine, Georgia Byng, Allan Stratton, Lynn Messina, Eric Carle, Robert Sabuda, and Jane Yolen. She conceived of and edited the first literary monster mash-ups aimed at teens: Little Vampire Women and Romeo & Juliet & Vampires. Catherine was also the editor for The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, winner of the 2008 Printz Award. Whether funny and light or dark and mysterious, traditional or edgy, she looks for strong narrative and voice, and a clear vision in all manuscripts

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POSNER, Marcy – Agent – MG and YA, some Historical and Fantasy

Agent at Folio Literary Management. After fifteen years on the editorial side of the business, Marcy made the jump to agenting – spending twelve years at the William Morris Agency as an agent and Vice President and Director of Foreign Rights, five years as president of her own agency, and five years at Sterling Lord Literistic as an agent and Director of Foreign Rights.

Marcy focuses editorially on making a book as strong as it could be.  She straddles the line between adult and children’s books (middle grade and young adult only).

In the children’s world, she’s looking for smart, contemporary YA and middle-grade novels. A great new mystery series for boys would be fun. She will look at historical fiction and fantasy, but is not taking on much in those areas.

In the adult world, she’s looking for commercial women’s fiction, historical fiction, mystery, biography, history, health, and lifestyle – and, especially, thoughtfully written commercial novels, thrillers with international settings, and narrative nonfiction.

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ROBINSON, Eileen – Editorial Consultant – PB, MG, YA  Editor – MOVE BOOKS: Interested in boy-focused MG     NO Poetry, Graphic Novels or Edgy Fiction

Publisher of Move Books, which focuses on Middle Grade books for boys.

Eileen is also owner of F1rst Page and does Editorial Consulting. As an editorial consultant, she works with both published and unpublished authors to help them strengthen their writing.

Eileen is a former executive editor at Scholastic.

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SARVER, Melissa – Agent – Teen and Young Adult

Agent at Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency. Melissa joined the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency in 2006 where she had the good fortune of working with award-winning children’s author E. Lockhart, and soon began representing authors writing for Young Adult. She looks for contemporary/realistic fiction, both literary and commercial; mysteries; urban fantasy; magical realism, and issue-based stories. She’s drawn to dark tales with brilliant prose and strong voice as well as quirky stories with a fresh sense of humor, and heartbreaking romances. She especially enjoys multicultural stories and similarly emotional stories with dystopian themes. She also considers Middle Grade fiction and Picture Books. 

Melissa is a graduate of Boston University. She has benefited from the experience of working with several agencies: Waxman Literary Agency, Brick House, and Imprint Agency (now FinePrint).

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TREIMEL, Scott – Agent – PB (Author/Illustrator), MG, YA.  NO Rhyme

Agent and owner of S©ott TreimelNY, which opened in 1995. Scott has worked for a literary agency, a literary scout, two book publishers, a newspaper syndicate, a book club, and a movie studio, either buying, selling, packaging, editing or creating intellectual property—all for children. Scott has a wealth of information and is a very accomplished agent in the children’s book industry.

TULLER, Tamra – Editor – PB, Rhyme, MG, YA, Historical Fiction, Edgy, Light Fantasy.

NO: Board Books, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Easy Readers/Chapter Books, Poetry

Editor at Philomel Books.  After working several years in education as an English as a Second Language instructor at Rutgers University, Tamra got her publishing feet wet in the Scholastic Book Clubs, and then moved on to Scholastic’s trade division at Blue Sky Press. In 2006 Tamra moved to Philomel Books, an imprint of the Penguin Young Readers Group, where she is currently an editor.

She is interested primarily in modern, literary middle grade and young adult fiction as well as story-based picture books. She has worked with such authors as Ruta Sepetys, Kathryn Erskine, Renata Liwska, Beth Kephart, and Heidi Ayarbe.

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UNDERDOWN, Harold – Editorial Consultant

All Genres from Board Books, PB through YA, including Poetry & Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy.  NO: Rhyme

Harold Underdown has worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge and has experience in both trade and educational publishing. He edits picture books, novels, and nonfiction. Harold is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Children’s Book Publishing, now in its third edition. He founded and runs “The Purple Crayon,” a respected web site with information about the children’s publishing world at http://www.underdown.org. He gives workshops at conferences, including the Highlights Foundation’s Chautauqua Retreat, SCBWI’s national conferences, and regional conferences all over the country.

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WESTON, Tamson – Ed. Consultant  All Genres from PB through YA

Tamson Weston is a published children’s book author and editor with over 15 years experience at several prestigious publishing houses including HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Disney Hyperion. She has edited many acclaimed and award-winning books for children of all ages. Tamson loves to collaborate with people and help authors, illustrators, agents and publishers bring projects to their full potential.

Among the authors Tamson has worked with are Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, Robert Weinstock, Adam Gopnik, Jane Leslie Conly, Anne Rockwell, Deborah Hopkinson, Jen Violi, Alexander Stadler, Dan Santat, Florence Paryy Heide, Dandi Daley Mackall, Brian Biggs, Marilyn Singer, Megan Cash and Mark Newgarden.

Tamson has an MFA in Writing and Literature.

WILLIAMS-NG, Stacey – Creative Art Director – Interactive Storybooks, Private or Groups of Three

Stacey is a former full-time instructor in multimedia and as a creative director in new media for over 15 years, Stacey has built a career on harnessing digital media to tell stories. She is a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) and a Creative Director for Demibooks Inc.

AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS

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BARDHAN-QUALLEN, Sudipta – Author Critiques: PB, Chapter Books, MG

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen is the author of more than thirty books for children, ranging from thirteen picture books to over a dozen nonfiction books for young readers to a newly-contracted chapter book series called Spectacles of Destiny. Her titles include Hampire!, The Worst Twelve Days of Christmas, Half-Pint Pete the Pirate, Pirate Princess, and Chicks Run Wild. She speaks at conferences, educator events, and schools across the country, teaching the craft of writing to children and adults. 

 BENNARDO, Charlotte  – Author

Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman are the co-authors of Sirenz and Sirenz Back in Fashion, (Flux, June 2012). They are working on Sirenz 3 while their individual projects are out on submission. Long-time members of NJ SCBWI, they’d done numerous presentations on writing and editing in a variety of venues.

BOGOSIAN, Helena – Illustrator

Helena Bogosian is an award winning artist best known for her 3-D clay illustrations. She is the creator of the popular Clay Quests series of puzzle books published by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. and frequently contributes to her favorite magazine Highlights for Children. Her clay illustrations have been featured in books, magazines, posters, and websites. She creates her illustrations from colorful polymer clay which she sculpts and then digitally photographs. All preliminary sketches are done in clay as well.

BREWSTER, Linda – Author

Linda Brewster attended the University of Arkansas and studied at Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. She is published as an author, author/illustrator, and photographer in numerous children’s magazines. Her first book, Rose O’Neill: The Girl Who Loved to Draw, is a biography of America’s first woman cartoonist and Kewpie Doll creator, and won two USA National Best Book finalist awards.

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CALKHOVEN, Laurie – Author Critiques: Easy Reader/Chapter Books, MG, including mystery, fantasy, Sci-Fi, Historical & Action/Adventure

Laurie Calkhoven is the author of nearly 50 books for young readers. In addition to writing her own fiction, she has ghostwritten middle grade mysteries, authored TV tie-in novels, and contributed to many nonfiction series for children.  Currently she is writing historical action/adventure novels for her own series, Boys of Wartime, published by Dutton Books for Young Readers.

CHERNESKY, Felicia – Author/Editor Critiques: All Genres—Poetry, Rhyme, PB, Chapter Books, MG, YA

Felicia Sanzari Chernesky is a poet, writer, and editor. She is managing editor of the quarterly Academic Questions. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she is pursuing a MFA in Poetry with an Emphasis in Formal Verse at Western State College of Colorado. Felicia writes poetry and prose for children and adults.

CROSS, Mimi – Author

Mimi Cross holds an MA from NYU’s School of Education, Health, Nursing, and Arts Professions and a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College. She is the author of the interactive children’s story iPad app, The Crankamacallit and is currently seeking representation for her YA trilogy. She is a singer songwriter who has performed extensively and has released two CDs that can be found on sites like iTunes and Amazon.

She received her 200-hour teaching certificate from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, the largest facility for yoga in the country where she lived for a month while she studied, and where she’s happy to report, two of their main goals for yoga practice are comfort and ease. An instrumental version of her song 2 Clay Feet has just been released on Svadharma, a CD to benefit Kripalu’s Teaching for Diversity program.

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DYCKMAN, Ame – Author

Ame Dyckman has always loved picture books. Now she writes them too!

         Boy + Bot, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, (Knopf, 2012)

         Tea Party Rules, illustrated by Keith Campbell (Viking, 2013)

In addition to writing, Ame’s pastimes include hula hooping, putting change in people’s parking meters, and teasing her Super Agent, Scott Treimel. Ame lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and pets—two mischievous black cats, hermit crabs, fish, and a demanding-but-adorable squirrel named Willie.

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ETTLINGER, Doris – Illustrator

Doris Ettlinger is a graduate of RISD and has an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After an early career as an editorial illustrator, she has spent the last 20 years illustrating for children. Her clients include Sleeping Bear Press, Albert Whitman & Co. and American Girl.

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FERREIRO-ESTEBAN, Ph.D., Carmen – Author

Carmen Ferreiro lives in Pennsylvania, and is author of Two Moon Princess, Tanglewood Press, 2007, 2011, its sequel The King in the Stone, and four nonfiction books, Heroin, Lung Cancer, Ritalin, Mad Cow Disease, with Chelsea House. She’s represented by Ginger Knowlton of Curtis Brown, and is working on a paranormal story that chronicles her search for an agent and her struggles to survive her teenage children.

DeFOREST, Ann – Author

A fascination with maps inspired Ann de Forest’s first novel, The Recollector’s Map, a time travel adventure for middle grade readers. In a 25-year writing career, Ann has contributed to newspapers, airline magazines and arcane literary journals. She also runs after-school writing clubs for kids ages 8-13. She is represented by Katie Grimm of Don Congdon Associates.

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GRIFFIN, Kitty – Author

Kitty Griffin has published two tall tales, one legend, and has sold a reworked fairy tale. In addition she’s led workshops at various conferences including the Appalachian Writer’s Workshop and SCBWI events. In the Pittsburgh area she has been on faculty for several colleges, all of the courses involving children’s literature and/or writing for children.

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HERNANDEZ, Leeza – Author/Illustrator Critiques:  PB AND CHAPTER BOOKS

Leeza Hernandez works as a freelance designer, illustrator and author. In 2011, she won the SCBWI Art Showcase award and is a winner of the Tomie de Paola Portfolio Award. Books include: Bored Bella Learns About Fiction and Non-Fiction, Eat Your Math Homework (just named Book Links’ Lasting Connection 2011), and her debut-authored picture book Dog Gone! which releases June 2012. Leeza is an active member of SCBWI including Illustrator Coordinator for the New Jersey chapter. She resides in Central New Jersey with her family of cuddly critters.

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ISMAIL, Suzie – Author

Suzy is currently a Visiting Professor in the Communication Department at DeVry University. She is the author of Nine to Five (Amana, 2011), When Muslim Marriage Fails, (2010), The BFF Sisters (2001) and several other pending works. She speaks extensively on topics of intercultural, organizational, and family communication at conferences, corporations, universities, and events both nationally and internationally.

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KARZAI, Amal – Illustrator

Amal Karzai is an illustrator of children’s books, fashion illustration, and portraits.

She’s currently an MFA illustration student through Academy of Art University, SF. She’s also an author/illustrator of ESL books, and currently completing her first illustrated novel.  

After graduating with her BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1992, she headed into Asian conservation and focused on repairing and preserving Chinese and Japanese works of art on paper. Leaning over someone else’s work depressed me, so she began doing more of her own work.

KINARD, Kami – Author Critiques: Poetry and MG

Kami Kinard is the author of The Boy Project: Notes and Observations of Kara McAllister (Scholastic, January 2012).  Her poetry, stories, articles, and essays have appeared in periodicals for children and adults.  Kami also works as a teaching artist for SC schools, and teaches writing courses for continuing education programs. She lives with her family in Beaufort, SC.

KIRKLAND, Jane – Author

Jane Kirkland is a naturalist, photographer, and author of more than 50 nonfiction books, having sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. Her most recent work includes the award-winning children’s series called “Take a Walk®” books and Bo and Ms Beanz, Best Friends Forever, an early reader chapter book with photos about the friendship between her rescued dog and cat.

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MURRAY, Carol – Author

Carol Murray lives with her husband, Max, in Hutchinson, Kansas. They have two married sons and five grandchildren. She graduated from Kansas University with a BA degree in English and French.  Her MA is in British literature, with an emphasis in poetry.  She’s the author of seven picture books (Children’s Press/Scholastic, Sterling, and Peel Productions).  Her favorite?  Jenny’s Socks

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NOLAN, Anita – Author Critiques: MG & YA – No PB, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, or Poetry

Anita writes middle grade and young adult fiction and is a frequent presenter at writing workshops, including SCBWI and the Pearl S. Buck Writing Center. She’s written a historical chapter book for an educational publisher, magazine articles, and annotations for Best Books for Children. She edits fiction for an e-publisher and her day job is writing about commercial real estate and commercial mortgage-backed securities, which very occasionally provides interesting fodder for children’s books.

NORRIS, Christine – Author

Christine Norris is the author of several works for children and adults, including the Library of Athena series. She minds the inmates…uh, takes care of her family, which includes one husband-creature, a son-animal, and two felines who function as Guardian of the Bathtub and Official Lap Warmer, respectively. Christine is represented by TerrieWolf at AKA Literary, LLC.

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O’KEEFE, Susan – Author/Copy Editor Critiques:  All Genres

Susan Heyboer O’Keefe is an author and copy editor at Paulist Press. She is the author of almost 20 children’s books, including the midgrade novel Death by Eggplant (Roaring Brook), a nominee for the Disney Adventures Kid’s Choice Humor Award; the YA novel My Life and Death by Alexandra Canarsie (Peachtree Publishers), a TAYSHAS List pick; the best-selling picture book One Hungry Monster as well as Hungry Monster ABC (Little Brown). Susan recently made her adult debut with Frankenstein’s Monster (Random House), a sequel to Mary Shelley’s book.

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RAMSEY, Ellen – Author

Ellen L. Ramsey, a teacher, editor, and dedicated reader, loves to write mysteries, fantasies, and humorous stories. She has published stories and articles in Highlights, Highlights High Five, Hopscotch, Stories for Children, Dragonfly Spirit, and Once Upon a Time. She lives with her husband and thirty-seven teddy bears in a friendly and bear-safe home in Pennsylvania.

RESIDES, Jane – Author

Jane Resides, who graduated from Penn State, writes poetry, picture books, and historical fiction. She has published stories, articles, and poetry in Highlights, Once Upon a Time, Penn & Ink, and When I Can’t Get to Sleep, a West Chester Library poetry book. Her husband and grandson are beekeepers, and her article “Emme Loves Bees” was published in Highlights. 

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SCHWARTZ, Corey – Author

Corey Rosen Schwartz is the author of Hop Plop (2006), The Three Ninja Pigs (2012) and Goldi Rocks and the Three Bears (2014). Corey constantly tries to use her seven-year-old daughter as a beta reader, but she always gets the same feedback. “Mommy, I love it, but I think it would be a little bit better if the main character was a dog!”

SORKON-JAMES, Sharon – Author

Sharon Sorokin James is a writer and lawyer.  She has been a contributing editor to http://www.makingbread.com. Her articles have been published in Making Bread, by Gail Harlow and Elizabeth Lewin, Running Press 2005. She has also published professional articles and a serialized mystery in Commercial Realty Review. She is working on two MG novels – one sci-fi, the other historical/contemporary archeology.

STEEN, Sandra – Author Critiques:  PB, Easy Readers, Early Chapter Books, and Nonfiction

Sandra and Susan Steen are sisters and authors of Car Wash, an ALA notable picture book, and several nonfiction books, including Take It to the Hoop, a YASLA pick. They are school librarians, where they work with children to encourage a love for reading and writing.

STEEN, Susan – Author Critiques:  PB, Easy Readers, Early Chapter Books, and Nonfiction

Sandra and Susan Steen are sisters and authors of Car Wash, an ALA notable picture book, and several nonfiction books, including Take It to the Hoop, a YASLA pick. They are school librarians, where they work with children to encourage a love for reading and writing.

STRELITZ-HABER, Tiffany – Author

Tiffany Strelitz Haber is the author of two forthcoming, rhyming picture books: The Monster Who Lost His Mean (Holt/Macmillan, 2012) and Ollie and Claire (Philomel/Penguin 2013).

She has eaten fried bugs, jumped out of airplanes and lives for adventures in general. Tiffany grew up in NYC, but is now located in central NJ and available for workshops everywhere.

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WIERSBITZKY, Shannon – Author

Shannon Wiersbitzky was born in North Dakota, but grew up all over the place. Her first middle-grade novel, The Summer of Hammers and Angels, was published by namelos in July 2011. It is the story of an amazing summer in a girl’s life, a summer of surprises and challenges, shocks and recovery, discoveries and friendship, and loneliness and community.

WIVIOTT, Meg – Author

Meg has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her picture book, Benno and the Night of Broken Glass was named to SLJ’s Best Picture Book of 2010 list, CCBC’s Choices List of 2011, and received a gold medal from Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. The Heart of Auschwitz, a non-fiction middle-grade book, will be published by Kar-Ben in 2013.

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YACCARINO, Dan – Author/Illustrator Critiques or Portfolio Reviews:  PB Critiques, PB Dummies, Art Portfolio 

Dan Yaccarino is an artist, writer, and producer who has created many children’s books and commercial illustrations as well as his own animated television series. He has exhibited his work in galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Rome.

Dan has written and illustrated over thirty children’s books, most notably, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Every Friday and Go Go America. His bold, stylized illustrations add wit and energy to the work of such prestigious authors as Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin Henkes and Patricia MacLachlan in addition to his own stories. Also noteworthy: he has illustrated the upcoming picture book Boy & Bot, the first published picture book written by NJ SCBWI’s Ame Dyckman.

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ZAMAN, Natalie – Author

Natalie Zaman and Charlotte Bennardo are the co-authors of Sirenz and Sirenz Back in Fashion, (Flux, June 2012). They are working on Sirenz 3 while their individual projects are out on submission. Long-time members of NJ SCBWI, they’d done numerous presentations on writing and editing in a variety of venues.

Talk tmorrow,

Kathy