www.jenniferziegler.net

Jennifer Ziegler is the author of the YA novel HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR (Random House, 2008), a pick for the 2009 Texas Lone Star Reading List, and a nominee for the 2009 Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. She has also written ALPHA DOG (Random House, 2006) a finalist for the 2007 Teddy Award, as well as serveral other young adult series books penned uner her pseudonym Lynn Mason. A former English teacher, Jennifer lives in Austin, Texas where she continues to write and speak about writing at libraries, schools, and book festivals. She credits her wonderfully patient husband and two hilarious kids with keeping her happy and inspired.

Dianne Harvey was born in Corpus Christi but was quickly whisked off to a new location with her military family. Her life is like a road map of travel to many different states and countries. She moved to Austin to study journalism at the University of Texas. No, she didn’t stay. As a high school English teacher, she was lured to Germany for ten years and Florida for two before she returned and, yes, settled into the beautiful hill country outside Austin.

Writing, photography, and gardening (even though the deer eat everything!) are her passions.

She has a M.S.E. and is currently writing picture books inspired by nature and animals.

Debbie Gonzales has been a teacher, school administrator, and an educational consultant. During a filming season, she taught PBS’s Barney kids in an off-set one-room school house. Most recently Deb has earned her MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Writing for Children and Young Adults. She has written three sport-related pieces: a non-fiction picture book, a middle-grade and a YA novel. Her current project is a historical fiction middle-grade novel set in the Pacific Northwest. Debbie lives in Round Rock, Texas with her two favorite dogs: husband John and Tripod, her Labrador pup.

Born in Spain, Minia came to Texas in 99; what was going to be a short visit, became a “matter of love” and she has lived in Austin since then. After teaching on both sides of the Atlantic, she wanted to taste other fruits of life. She stopped her constant running and begun taking time to smell the roses . What a surprise to discover God’s jewels in Nature to be enjoyed if only we look, if we listen, if we really open our soul and senses…She shares this joy with children, and visits schools and libraries with suitcases full of surprises …

Some of her stories are: ” Feathers in the Meadow” ” Friends in the Forest” ” Grand Circus”, ” A little big help”, ” Memories of a little Princess”, ” Oscar’s decisions”… all of them available in up to five languages.

Website: http://www.pjhoover.com
Blog: http://pjhoover.blogspot.com

P. J. (Tricia) Hoover grew up near D.C. visiting museums and dreaming of finding Atlantis. She eventually married and had two children, shifted her dreams to reality, and began a writing career. Her middle grade science fiction novel, The Emerald Tablet (Blooming Tree Press, October 2008), tells the story of a boy who discovers he’s part of two feuding worlds hidden beneath the sea, and is the first of a trilogy, The Forgotten Worlds Books. Before writing full time, PJ worked as an electrical engineer in Austin, Texas.

PJ is a proud member of The Class of 2k8, a collaborative marketing group of debut novelists with YA/MG novels coming out in 2008.

To learn more about P. J. Hoover or her books, please visit www.pjhoover.com.

http://www.varianjohnson.com

Varian Johnson is the author of MY LIFE AS A RHOMBUS (Flux/Llewellyn, 2008) and the Essence Magazine Bestseller, A RED POLKA DOT IN A WORLD FULL OF PLAID (Genesis Press, 2005).

He was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. Varian now lives in Austin, TX with his wife, Crystal, and is a member of SCBWI, the Writers’ League of Texas, and The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN). Varian is also the co-founder of The Brown Bookshelf, an online community charged with highlighting established and up-and-coming African-American authors of children’s and young adult literature.

http://www.sarahackerley.com

Sarah Ackerley grew up in Waxahachie, Texas in a family of seven children. Her parents had a reputation for giving books as gifts for all holidays—Valentine’s Day included, and so Sarah had no choice but to read them. Fortunately, she loved to read and she developed an early fascination with picture books that she never lost. After earning her BFA from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 and her MEd from Texas State University in 2007, Sarah went on to pursue her dream of becoming a real live children’s book author/illustrator.

To her great joy, her first picture book, PATRICK THE SOMNAMBULIST, was published by Blooming Tree Press in spring 2008. PATRICK THE SOMNAMBULIST is the tale of a sleepwalking, plunger wearing superstar penguin and his adventures extraordinaire.

Midge Beard lives and works in Austin Texas as a freelance illustrator by day and inspired dreamer by night. For, according to Midge Beard, in deep, deep, heavenly sleep comes deep, deep divine inspiration. She tries to remember the bits and pieces of color, imagery and words that come in the wee hours. Although they’re not always remembered or completely understood, she considers them to be night time treasures. She wishes everyone on the planet could remember their dreams. Whether vivid or grey, distorted or clear, one should never underestimate the power of dreaming and recall.

Like most illustrators, she remembers marveling at the drawings in her picture books as a child, wondering, “How could someone create something that beautiful, and how did they do it?”.

Even in her high school years, seeing some of Europe’s most breathtaking works of art housed in museums and cathedrals that were works of art themselves, she again wondered, “How could someone create something that beautiful, and how did they do it?”. And as she got older she thought of something. Something very simple. Maybe they dreamed it. And remembered.
Midge Beard continues to remember and pursue her biggest dream —- sharing experiences and treasures through pictures and words.

Sheena Monnin is a talented speaker and writer from Austin, Texas. Sheena loves to travel and has taught her program “Discover Your Destiny” to thousands of children across the United States.

Her book DISCOVER YOUR DESTINEY tells the tale of Alex’s treasure hunt towards his own special destiny, or destination, in life. Alex learns how to make good choices using the four keys he finds.

Join Alex on his quest for treasure as he embarks on a great adventure learning valuable keys for success along the way.

To place an order, schedule Sheena for a speaking engagement or book signing, visit:

www.sheenamonnin.com

Founder, Girls of Promise Foundation
“Discover Your Destiny!”