Courtney Sheinmel is a chocolate lover, a mac-and-cheese expert, and the author of over twenty highly celebrated books for kids and teens, including the middle-grade series The Kindness Club and the young readers’ series Stella Batts and Magic on the Map. For nearly a decade, Courtney has mentored teen writers at Writopia Lab, a nonprofit organization serving kids ages eight to eighteen, and she received a National Scholastic Outstanding Educator Award. She lives in New York City.

Colleen AF Venable is the author of the National Book Award long-listed Kiss Number 8, a graphic novel co-created with Ellen T. Crenshaw. Her other books include Mervin the Sloth is About to Do the Best Thing in The World with Ruth Chan, The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom with Lian Cho, and the Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye series, illustrated by Stephanie Yue and nominated for the Best Publication for Kids Eisner.

Renée Kurilla has illustrated many books for kids, and her picture book Right This Very Minute, written by Lisl Detlefsen, was selected as the American Farm Bureau’s 2019 Book of the Year. Renée has a BFA in illustration and a diploma in graphic design from Lesley University College of Art and Design. She lives just south of Boston with her husband, daughter, and a plump orange cat that springs to life the moment everyone else falls asleep.