Middle Grade & Early Readers

OLIVIA ABTAHI grew up in the DC area, devouring books and hiding in empty classrooms during school to finish them. Her debut novel, PERFECTLY PARVIN, was published in 2021 by Putnam Books for Young Readers, receiving the SCBWI Golden Kite Honor, and YALSA Odyssey Honor, and numerous starred reviews. Her sophomore novel, AZAR ON FIRE, was published in August 2022. Her middle grade debut, ROSTAM AND THE RED DWARF is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in 2025, along with her Picture Book debut from Kokila in the same year. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband and children. https://www.oliviaabtahi.com/

KATE ALLEN is the author of the middle grade novel THE LINE TENDER, which received seven starred reviews and was selected as a Best Book of 2019 by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus, Shelf Awareness, and BookPage. Kate grew up in Massachusetts and lives in Minneapolis with her family. She is currently working on her next middle grade novel. https://www.kateallenbooks.com

JAKE MAIA ARLOW is a Stonewall Honor author, podcast producer, and bagel connoisseur. They studied evolutionary biology and creative writing (not as different as you might think) at Barnard College. They live with their girlfriend and loud cat in the Pacific Northwest. Their debut novel, ALMOST FLYING, was a Stonewall Honor book and Barnes & Noble Children’s Prize Shortlist selection, and their debut YA novel, HOW TO EXCAVATE A HEART, was an instant Indie Bestseller, an Indie Next pick, and received two starred reviews. https://jakewhosasillygoose.com/

REBECCA E.F. BARONE holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University along with multiple graduate degrees in mechanical engineering. Her technical projects include injury analysis for the National Football League, and her short-form STEM writing has been published in the award-winning Muse magazine. She is passionate about serving and mentoring underrepresented populations in STEM and has continued to mentor in the kidlit arena with her participation in the #kidsneedmentors program. She enjoys rock climbing, marathon running, and creating amazing (sometimes tasty!) messes with her husband, son, and daughter. Her debut book for young readers, RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EARTH: Surviving Antarctica, received four starred reviews and was named a School Library Journal Best Book of 2021, a 2022 National Science Teachers Association/Children’s Book Council Best STEM Book, and a 2021 Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books Blue Ribbon selection. Her next book, UNBREAKABLE: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code, was the recipient of five starred reviews and was named a best book of the year by Booklist, Amazon, and the Chicago Public Library. Her latest book, MOUNTAIN OF FIRE: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens, is the narrative nonfiction account of the violent volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, the story of the people who died, those who survived, and the heroes who fought to raise an alarm. www.rebeccaefbarone.com

 DALE BASYE is a children’s author and an award-winning film critic. He is the author of the Heck series, the first book of which, HECK: WHERE THE BAD KIDS GO, was a finalist for the Borders Original Voices Award. Dale is currently working on the next books in the series.

EMMA BERNAY, who also writes under the name EMMA CARLSON BERNE, has written a number of books, both fiction and nonfiction, for children and young adults. She has worked on projects with American Girl Publishing, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Sterling Publishing, Capstone, Rosen, MTV Books, and Alloy Entertainment, among others. She is the author of the YA thrillers STILL WATERS and NEVER LET YOU GO. Her most recent book is ROSE SPOKE OUT: THE STORY OF ROSE SCHNEIDERMAN, a nonfiction picture book about a young Jewish immigrant from Poland who galvanized support for better working conditions in the early 1900s. emmacarlsonberne.com

KATE BOORMAN has a Master of Arts from the University of Alberta. She was born in Nepal and now lives in Edmonton, Alberta. She is the author of the young adult novels WINTERKILL and its sequels DARKTHAW and HEARTFIRE, as well as the psychological thrillers WHAT WE BURIED and INTO THE SUBLIME. Her newest book, THE HEATHENS AND THE DRAGON, is a middle grade medieval adventure starring two orphans, a troubadour with dancing feet, and an irascible pet chicken. kateaboorman.com  

Z BREWER is the author (writing under the name Heather Brewer) of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling series The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, about a half-boy, half-vampire, and its spin-off series, The Slayer Chronicles, as well as the YA fantasy, SOULBOUND. Z’s other novels include CEMETERY BOYS, THE BLOOD BETWEEN US, MADNESS, and INTO THE REAL. Z’s newest book is THE CHRONICLES OF VIKTOR VALENTINE, a middle grade novel set in the same world as the Vladimir Tod series, about a perfectly average boy who uncovers a supernatural secret about his family that could put his whole town in grave danger—if it doesn’t make him die of embarrassment first. Z is also a tireless anti-bullying advocate and lecturer. http://zbrewerbooks.com/bio/ 

JESSICA BRODY worked for MGM Studios as manager of acquisitions and business development before becoming an internationally best-selling author of more than fifteen novels for teens, tweens, and adults including THE GEOGRAPHY OF LOST THINGS; THE CHAOS OF STANDING STILL; A WEEK OF MONDAYS; and BETTER YOU THAN ME.  She’s also the author of the Descendants: School of Secrets series, based on the hit Disney Channel original movie, Descendants. Her books have been translated and published in over 23 countries. She travels the country teaching Save the Cat! workshops to novelists and has penned the bestselling writing guides SAVE THE CAT! WRITES A NOVEL and SAVE THE CAT! WRITES A YA NOVEL.

CLIFF BURKE grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. He worked as a house painter, a parking lot attendant and a sign-twirling dancing banana before graduating from the College of William & Mary. Since then, he has taught reading and writing in China, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States. He is the author of AN OCCASIONALLY HAPPY FAMILY and MY SO-CALLED FRENCH ESCAPE. https://www.cliffburke.com/

VEEDA BYBEE is a former journalist who holds an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has a forthcoming anthology on notable Asian Americans being published by Versify in Spring 2022 and is part of the RURAL VOICES anthology and CALLING THE MOON anthology, which Candlewick is publishing in 2022. She has also written work for Capstone, COURAGE ON ICE and LILY AND THE GREAT QUAKE. Veeda is the daughter of Asian immigrants and now lives in Nevada with her family.

DEB CALETTI is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over sixteen books for adults and young adults, including HONEY, BABY, SWEETHEART, a finalist for the National Book Award; A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book; GIRL, UNFRAMED, which received seven starred reviews; THE EPIC STORY OF EVERY LIVING THING, which was named a best book of the year by Amazon, Kirkus, Booklist, BookPage, and the Bank Street College of Education, and received five starred reviews; and PLAN A, which was named a YALSA 2024 Best Book for Young Adults Top Ten Selection, was named a best book of the year by School Library Journal, Kirkus, Amazon, and Bank Street College of Education, and received for starred reviews. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She is also the author of the Tales of Triumph and Disaster series for middle grade readers. Her new young adult novel, TRUE LIFE IN UNCANNY VALLEY, is about a girl living a lie in order to find the truth about herself and her family. http://debcaletti.com   

LORENE CARY is the celebrated author of BLACK ICE, a memoir of her experiences as a black student at the predominantly white St. Paul’s prep school; THE PRICE OF A CHILD, a stunning first novel about slavery in the pre-Civil War South; and PRIDE, an exuberant tale of lifelong friendships. She is also the founder of Art Sanctuary in Philadelphia, an African-American arts and letters organization devoted to presenting regional and national talent in the literary, visual, and performing arts. Her first children’s book, FREE!: GREAT ESCAPES FROM SLAVERY ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, is a collection of slave escape narratives. Her latest is IF SONS, THEN HEIRS, the story of a family striving to remain whole in the face of racial tensions, inequality, and violence in 1930s and 40s North Carolina and New York.

PREETI CHHIBBER has spent her life being a fan of being a fan. Hailing from Florida, she spent a decade working in children's publishing in New York before leaving to pursue writing full time. She's written for SYFY, BookRiot, BookRiot Comics, The Nerds of Color, and The Mary Sue, among others. Her short story, "Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers" was published in the anthology A THOUSAND BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS, and she also contributed to the anthology STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS: STORIES OF LIGHT AND DARK. She is the author of SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME: PETER AND NED’S ULTIMATE TRAVEL JOURNAL; STAR WARS: A JEDI, YOU WILL BE; the MARVEL: AVENGERS ASSEMBLY middle grade comic series; SPIDER-MAN’S BAD CONNECTION; and SPIDER-MAN’S SOCIAL DILEMMA. Her latest book and debut young adult novel is PAYAL MEHTA’S ROMANCE REVENGE PLOT, a laugh-out-loud romance that introduces perfectly imperfect Payal Mehta, whose plan to get her longtime crush to finally notice her is destined for success, but only if she ignores her budding feelings for her archnemesis… https://www.preetichhibber.com/  

MARIA FRAZER is a middle grade writer originally from San Antonio, TX. She is now a social worker in Austin. She enjoys board games, books, and breakfast tacos. Her debut novel, MARGARITA IN THE SPOTLIGHT, is about a banjo player who prefers to stand in the shadows behind her up-and-coming country star stepsister but finds herself thrust into the spotlight when their record label tries to solve a PR crisis by playing up her Mexican-American identity, causing Margarita to question who she is and what she wants.

CECILIA GALANTE is an acclaimed children’s book author who teaches 8th grade English and fiction at a graduate school level. She is a prolific writer for children, and her most recent middle grade novels are THE WORLD FROM UP HERE, STEALING OUR WAY HOME and STRAYS LIKE US. She is also the author of two novels for adults: THE INVISIBLES and THE ODDS OF YOU AND ME.
www.ceciliagalante.com

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is the bestselling middle grade author of ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY and THE ISLAND OF DR. LIBRIS. Grabenstein also regularly hits the bestseller lists with his middle grade collaborations with James Patterson. His second Lemoncello installment, MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY OLYMPICS, was just published by Random House, and his next Random House series, WELCOME TO WONDERLAND, kicks off this fall. His Haunted Mystery series remains a perennial, as do his Riley Mack books.

SHARI GREEN writes fiction and poetry for children and young adults. Her middle-grade verse novels include ROOT BEER CANDY AND OTHER MIRACLES, an IYL White Ravens selection; MACY McMILLAN AND THE RAINBOW GODDESS, a Schneider Family Book Award winner, Junior Library Guild selection, IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People With Disabilities selection, and USBBY Outstanding International Books selection; and MISSING MIKE, an NCTE Notable Verse Novels selection and USBBY Outstanding International Books selection. When she’s not writing or reading, Shari may often be found wandering the beaches near her home on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. www.sharigreen.com

EVAN GRIFFITH is a writer based in Austin, Texas. He studied creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Prior to relocating to Austin, he worked for five years as an editor at Workman Publishing in NYC where he specialized in non-fiction for children and adults, and he continues to edit books on a freelance basis. Through his role as the youth programming specialist at The Writing Barn, an Austin-based creative writing education center, he also teaches online writing classes for kids. Perhaps most importantly, he has a tuxedo cat named Kylie. Evan is the author of the nonfiction picture book SECRETS OF THE SEA: THE STORY OF JEANNE POWER, REVOLUTIONARY MARINE SCIENTIST and the middle grade novel MANATEE SUMMER. His latest middle grade novel, THE STRANGE WONDERS OF ROOTS, is about a girl who learns to lay down roots as she’s drawn into a fight over a local grove of trees that’s in danger of being torn down. His newest picture book is WILD AT HEART: THE STORY OF OLAUS AND MARDY MURIE, DEFENDERS OF NATURE. https://www.evangriffithbooks.com 

A.J. HARTLEY is the Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is also a screenwriter, theatre director and dramaturg. Despite his background in academia, he is a prolific commercial fiction writer, and his first novel, an international thriller entitled THE MASK OF ATREUS, was sold in over 12 countries, and became a USA Today bestseller. He is also the author of ON THE FIFTH DAY, which hit the New York Times bestseller list, WHAT TIME DEVOURS, and the SEKRET MACHINES and CATHEDRALS OF GLASS trilogies with Tom DeLonge. He is also the author of two fantasy novels, ACT OF WILL and WILL POWER, were published as hardcover originals and ACT OF WILL received a starred PW review. He is the author of a 3-book middle grade series, DARWEN ARKWRIGHT. His first YA is STEEPLEJACK, a rich atmospheric novel about a young girl who climbs the tall towers in a land resembling Victorian Africa, which will be followed by two more novels in the series.
http://ajhartley.net/

ALLISON K. HYMAS has an MFA in Creative Writing from Brigham Young University. She is the author of the middle grade duology, UNDER LOCKER AND KEY and ARTS AND THEFTS, about a sixth grader who specializes in retrieving lost or stolen items for his classmates who is conned into stealing the skeleton key that opens all the school’s lockers and has to team up with his nemesis to get it back. She’s currently at work on her next middle grade, THE EXPLORER’S CODE, a mystery full of adventure and heart about family, friendship, and how much we can accomplish when we learn to let people in. With solvable codes and puzzles throughout, it’s The Westing Game with an Amelia Earhart twist.

NICOLE C. KEAR is the author of the memoir NOW I SEE YOU, heralded as a Best New Book by People and Amazon, and chosen as a Must-Read by Family Circle, Redbook, Martha Stewart Living, Marie Claire UK and others. Her writing appears in the New York Times, Good Housekeeping, New York, Psychology Today, Parents, American Baby, as well as Salon, The Huffington Post and xoJane. She is the author of the chapter book series THE FIX-IT FRIENDS, the middle grade series THE STARTUP SQUAD, and most recently the middle grade novel FOREVERLAND, a bighearted coming-of-age story set after-hours at an amusement park. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, three children, and two feisty goldfish. nicolekear.com

DEREK TAYLOR KENT is the well-loved author of HarperCollins’s SCARY SCHOOL series. His first picture book is EL PERRO EN SOMBRERO.

A.S. KING is an award-winning and critically acclaimed author of young adult and middle grade fiction, hailed by the New York Times as “one of the best YA writers working today.” She is the only two-time winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, and she was the recipient of the 2022 Margaret A. Edwards Award, which recognizes an author and their “significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.” Her novels include her debut, THE DUST OF 100 DOGS, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and Indie Next pick; PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book and an Edgar Award Nominee; EVERYBODY SEES THE ANTS, which received six starred reviews; ASK THE PASSENGERS, winner of the LA Times Book Prize; REALITY BOY, recipient of five starred reviews; GLORY O’BRIEN’S HISTORY OF THE FUTURE, which was on the Best Book of 2014 lists from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal, BookPage, Boston Globe, and the New York Public Library; I CRAWL THROUGH IT, another six-starred reviewed YA novel; STILL LIFE WITH TORNADO, a New York Times Notable Book and recipient of five starred reviews; DIG, which received the 2020 Michael L. Printz Award and was an LA Times Book Prize finalist; and SWITCH, which was a YALSA 2022 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Under her full name, Amy Sarig King, she has written the critically acclaimed middle grade novels ME AND MARVIN GARDENS, an Indie Next pick and 2018-2019 Texas Bluebonnet Master List selection; THE YEAR WE FELL FROM SPACE, a Horn Book Fanfare pick and Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 2019 Blue Ribbon selection; and ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES, the recipient of five starred reviews and an instant ABA Indie bestseller. She is the editor of THE COLLECTORS: STORIES, which received the 2024 Michael L. Printz Award. Her most recent novel is PICK THE LOCK, which was the recipient of four starred reviews and was name a best book of 2024 by NPR, Boston Globe, the Chicago Public Library, Amazon, Shelf Awareness, and Horn Book. as-king.com   

MATTHEW J. KIRBY is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of the middle grade novels THE CLOCKWORK THREE, ICEFALL, THE LOST KINGDOM, INFINITY RING BOOK 5: CAVE OF WONDERS, and THE QUANTUM LEAGUE series, the DARK GRAVITY SEQUENCE, the Assassin’s Creed series LAST DESCENDANTS, and DIABLO: BOOK OF LORATH, a tie-in to Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo franchise. He was named a Publisher’s Weekly Flying Start, he has won the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery, the PEN Center USA award for Children’s Literature, and the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, and has been named to the New York Public Library’s 100 Books for Reading and Sharing, and the ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults lists. He is also a school psychologist, and currently lives in Idaho with his wife and three step-kids. His latest book is STAR SPLITTER, is a 2024 Edgar Allen Poe Award nominee, was named to the 2024 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list, and was named a best book of the year by Kirkus and the Chicago Public Library. The young adult novel follows a teen who has crash-landed on a desolate planet lightyears from Earth who must unravel the mystery of the bloody destruction all around her—and the questionable intentions of a familiar stranger. http://matthewjkirby.com/kirbside/

REMY LAI writes and draws stories for kids. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, where she can often be found exploring the woods near her home with her two dogs, Poop-Roller and Bossy Boots. https://remylai.com/

VICTORIA LAURIE is a professional psychic intuitive who lives in Michigan. She is the author of two New York Times bestselling series, the Psychic Eye mysteries about professional intuitive Abby Cooper in which she has already published more than fifteen novels, and the Ghost Hunter series about beloved character M. J. Holliday. She has also penned a spin-off, the Life Coach Mysteries, which kicked off with COACHED TO DEATH . She is the author of the fantasy novel A SPELL TO UNBIND. And for children, she wrote a historical fantasy series for a middle grade audience, THE ORACLES OF DELPHI KEEP and the YA thrillers WHEN and FOREVER, AGAIN. https://www.victorialaurie.com/ 

JULIE LEE graduated from Cornell University with a degree in history. Her debut novel, BROTHER'S KEEPER, was the winner of the Freeman Book Award, and was inspired by her mother's escape from North Korea during the Korean War. Her latest novel for middle grade readers, IN THE TUNNEL, is a companion to her debut, about one boy’s coming of age in a time when inhumanity, lawlessness, and terror reigned supreme. Julie resides in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She is currently working on her second novel.

MARIAMA J. LOCKINGTON is a transracial adoptee, author, and educator. She has been telling stories and making her own books since the second grade, when she wore shortalls and flower leggings every day to school. Her debut middle grade novel For Black Girls Like Me (FSG BYR 2019) is an ALA Notable Middle Grade Book, a Booklist Editors Choice title, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard title, a Project LIT Book Club 2019-2020 selection, and has earned five starred reviews from Shelf Awareness, Publisher’s Weekly, BookPage, School Library Journal, and Booklist. Mariama's second middle grade novel In the Key Of Us (FSG BYR) will be out in 2022 and her debut YA novel Forever is Now (FSG BYR) is also forthcoming. Mariama calls many places home, but currently lives in Kentucky with her partner and her little sausage dog, Henry. You can find her on Twitter @marilock and on Instagram @forblackgirlslikeme.

DEBORAH LYTTON is a writer, singer, an attorney and an actress who had a recurring role as Melissa Anderson on Days of Our Lives. She has appeared in many television shows and films, and has written articles for magazines including Fit Pregnancy. She is the author of the middle grade novel, JANE IN BLOOM, the young adult romantic drama SILENCE, and an upcoming middle grade series THE FICTIONAL AND SOMETIMES FABULOUS WORLD OF RUBY STARR.
www.deborahlytton.com

JOY McCULLOUGH won the Washington State and Pacific Northwest book awards for her YA debut, BLOOD WATER PAINT, as well as honors including the National Book Award longlist, finalist for the ALA Morris Award, a Publishers Weekly Flying Start and four starred reviews. She has since written picture books and young adult and middle grade novels that have been Junior Library Guild Selections, Indie Next Selections, finalists for the Washington State Book Award, and a New York Times bestseller. She is also a playwright and is currently Resident Playwright at Seattle Public Theater. https://joymccullough.com/

ANNA-MARIE MCLEMORE (they/them) writes magical realism and fairy tales that are as queer, Latine, and nonbinary as they are. Their books include THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS, a 2016 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist; 2017 Stonewall Honor Book WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS, which was longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People's Literature and was the winner of the James Tiptree Jr. Award; WILD BEAUTY, a Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist best book of 2017; BLANCA & ROJA, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice; MISS METEOR (co-authored with Tehlor Kay Mejia); DARK AND DEEPEST RED, a Winter 2020 Indie Next List selection; THE MIRROR SEASON, which received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and School Library Journal; LAKELORE, which received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness; and SELF-MADE BOYS: A GREAT GATSBY REMIX, which was longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature and received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness. Their newest book is VENOM & VOW, a lush young adult fantasy novel co-authored with Elliot McLemore, and forthcoming is THE INFLUENCERS, their debut adult novel about two generations of a social media influencer family whose many secrets lurking behind the Instagram veneer come to light when the matriarch’s home mysteriously burns down with her murdered husband inside. http://author.annamariemclemore.com/p/welcome.html

LISA MCMANN is the author of the New York Times bestselling Wake trilogy and the stand-alone YA novels CRYER’S CROSS and DEAD TO YOU. Lisa’s other works include the fantastical Unwanteds series and its spin-off series, The Unwanteds Quests; the Visions series, which follows a girl experiencing terrifying premonitions of an accident; the Going Wild series, about an advanced technology that allows kids to harness the powers of animals; THE TRAP DOOR, the third book in the bestselling multi-author, multi-platform time-travel adventure Infinity Ring series; and CLARICE THE BRAVE, an epic adventure story about mice siblings separated during a mutiny as sea. Her newest series for middle grade readers, The Forgotten Five, begins with MAP OF FLAMES, which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list, and continues with THE INVISIBLE SPY, REBEL UNDERCOVER, DANGEROUS ALLIES, and OPERATION CHAOS. It tells the story of five kids with supernatural abilities searching for the truth about their parents in a world where being supernatural is a crime. lisamcmann.com 

MATT MCMANN lives in Arizona with his wife, New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann. A former professional musician and speaker, Matt now writes children’s mystery adventure stories with a spooky twist. You’re likely to catch him blogging about personal development, wandering an art museum, or watching his daughter Kennedy McMann star as Nancy Drew on the CW network. His debut middle grade series, Monsterious, begins with ESCAPE FROM GRIMSTONE MANOR, in which three friends are trapped inside a haunted house ride overnight. https://linktr.ee/MattMcMann 

TEHLOR KAY MEJIA is a bestselling and award-winning author of novels for children, teens, and adults. He debuted with the young adult novel, WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE. Tehlor’s debut middle grade novel, PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS, was published by the Rick Riordan Presents imprint at Disney/Hyperion. It received four starred reviews, and was named Amazon’s best book of 2020 in the 9-12 age range. His adult debut was the romcom SAMMY ESPINOZA’S LAST REVIEW. He continues to publish titles for all age ranges. https://www.tehlorkaymejia.com/ 

NICOLE MELLEBY, a Jersey native, is the author of highly praised picture books and middle-grade novels, including the Lambda Literary finalist HURRICANE SEASON and ALA Notable Children's book HOW TO BECOME A PLANET. She currently teaches at the Fairleigh Dickinson MFA Creative Writing program and lives with her wife and their cats, whose needs for attention oddly align with Nicole’s writing schedule. https://nicolemelleby.com/

SAUNDRA MITCHELL is a long-time screenwriter and author whose young adult debut was the gothic SHADOWED SUMMER.  In YA, she is the author of THE VESPERTINE, THE SPRINGSWEET, and THE ELEMENTALS; and MISTWALKER. In middle grade, she co-authored the two horror comedies in the CAMP MURDERFACE series. Saundra has edited a trilogy of young adult anthologies about queer youth in the past, present, and future titled, respectively, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. As Jessa Holbrooke, she is the author of the serialized novel WHILE YOU’RE AWAY. Her first two nonfiction titles launched the They Did What?! Series—50 UNBELIEVABLE WOMEN AND THEIR FASCINATING AND TRUE STORIES and 50 IMPRESSIVE KIDS AND THEIR AMAZING AND TRUE STORIES. www.saundramitchell.com 

TOM MITCHELL is a full-time father, part-time writer. Growing up in the West Country, he settled in London after a brief interlude in the East Midlands. HOW TO ROB A BANK is his first novel, written during the school holidays of his teaching job. He is also the author of THAT TIME I GOT KIDNAPPED, ESCAPE FROM CAMP BORING, WHEN THINGS WENT WILD, and  HOW TO STOP THE END OF THE WORLD. His latest novel is THE FIRST KID IN SPACE, an out-of-this-world adventure where everything is not what it seems. He can be found tweeting at @cakesthebrain and Medium-ing at https://medium.com/@tommycm. 

DAVID NEILSEN will make his debut with DR. FELL AND THE PLAYGROUND OF DOOM, a middle-grade supernatural thriller written with a Lovecraftian bent.

MICHAEL OECHSLE is a teacher and the author of the middle-grade novel THE LOST CIPHER. He lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

JEWELL PARKER RHODES is the author of the modern classic VOODOO DREAMS, a novel about famed voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, as well as VOODOO SEASON, YELLOW MOON, and HURRICANE: A NOVEL, which follow Marie Laveau’s modern day descendant. She is also the author of MAGIC CITY, a novel about the race riots in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the early 20th century. DOUGLASS’ WOMEN is a fictional account of Frederick Douglass and the two women who loved him. Her nonfiction works include FREE WITHIN OURSELVES and PORCH STORIES: A GRANDMOTHER’S GUIDE TO HAPPINESS. Her first middle grade novel, NINTH WARD, set against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina, was a Coretta Scott King Book Honor winner, and she’s written seven other critically acclaimed novels for young readers: SUGAR; BAYOU MAGIC; TOWERS FALLING; GHOST BOYS, which is a New York Times, IndieBound, and Publishers Weekly bestseller, received four starred reviews, and is a #1 Kids’ Indie Next List pick; BLACK BROTHER, BLACK BROTHER, which received three starred reviews, was a YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection, and has been nominated for over a dozen reader’s choice awards; PARADISE ON FIRE, which was a Kids’ Indie Next List pick and was lauded for doing “heroic work in connecting global forces to local reality” by the New York Times; and TREASURE ISLAND: RUNAWAY GOLD, a reimagining of the classic novel Treasure Island set in modern-day Manhattan, which was named a best book of the year by Kirkus and Booklist. Her most recent book for middle grade readers is WILL’S RACE FOR HOME, a thrilling adventure story about a boy and his father who set out to win land during the Oklahoma Land Rush—if they can survive the journey. She is also the co-author, with her daughter Kelly McWilliams, of SOUL STEP, a picture book illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu about the joy and history of step dancing. The driving force behind all of Jewell’s work is to inspire social justice, equality, and environmental stewardship. jewellparkerrhodes.com 

JASMINNE PAULINO, an unapologetic code switcher, grew up in THE HEIGHTS. Exact address: West 190th, corner of St. Nick. Her heart’s soundtrack: Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, Reggaeton. Her words…always take her HOME. New York City, the Dominican Republic, la vida en familia, inspire her middle grade writing. She completed an MFA in Creative Writing at Lesley University. Her debut middle grade novel in verse, THE EXTRAORDINARY ORBIT OF ALEX RAMIREZ, will be published in Summer 2025 by Putnam Books for Young Readers. 

DIANA PETERFREUND has published eight novels for adults and teens, including the four-book Secret Society Girl series, the Killer Unicorn series: RAMPANT, ASCENDENT, and ERRANT. Her other series, Stars, includes FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS, a post-apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and ACROSS A STAR SWEPT SEA, a romantic science-fiction retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Her lastest work is a series of middle grade adventure novels, the first of which is OMEGA CITY; the second book in the series is in the works.

J. C. PHILLIPPS lives in Connecticut and is the author and illustrator of THE SIMPLES LOVE A PICNIC, MONKEY ONO, WINK: THE NINJA WHO WANTED TO NAP, and WINK: THE NINJA WHO WANTED TO BE NOTICED. Her newest book is DRAGON RIDER, the fourth book in her middle grade graphic novel series PACEY PACKER UNICORN TRACKER. She is also a collage and watercolor artist and a founding member of the WeHa Artists Emporium. http://www.jcphillipps.com/

CYNTHIA PLATT is a children's book editor and the author of several books for kids, including the picture books GROW, A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE, and PANDA-MONIUM!, and the middle grade novel PARKER BELL AND THE SCIENCE OF FRIENDSHIP. You can find her online at www.cynthiaplattbooks.com.

DAN POBLOCKI is the author of many books for young people, including GHOST HUNTER’S DAUGHTER, THE GHOST OF GRAYLOCK, THE HAUNTING OF GABRIEL ASHE, THE HOUSE ON STONE’S THROW ISLAND, THE BOOK OF BAD THINGS, and the SHADOW HOUSE series. His stories have thrilled and chilled readers all over the world. In the US, they have been named to the Best Books for Young Adults list by the American Library Association, and have been honored by the Junior Library Guild. His latest books for young readers are TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT, a spectacularly creepy collection of interconnected stories that is sure to keep readers up way past their bedtime, and its sequel, MORE TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. Dan lives in an old house where he tries very hard to ignore the things that go bump in the night. http://www.danpoblocki.com 

GAE POLISNER is the author of the award-winning YA THE PULL OF GRAVITY, THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO, THE MEMORY OF THINGS, IN SIGHT OF STARS, and JACK KEROUAC IS DEAD TO ME. In collaboration with Nora Raleigh Baskin, she is the author of the middle grade novels SEVEN CLUES TO HOME and CONSIDER THE OCTOPUS. https://www.gaepolisner.com/

LORI POLYDOROS has been writing for children for over twenty years and has published over 80 books, articles and short stories.  Her latest work is QUAKE CHASERS: 15 WOMEN ROCKING EARTHQUAKE SCIENCE which Chicago Review Press is publishing in 2022.  She is a high school English teacher and a community college adjunct instructor in Santa Ana, California. A long-time SCBWI volunteer, Lori has done many author visits to schools and community writing workshops.

JAMES RILEY is the New York Times bestselling author of the HALF UPON A TIME series, THE STORY THIEVES series, and THE REVENGE OF MAGIC series for middle grade readers. In his most recent series, ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME, which is set in the world of the popular HALF UPON A TIME series, storybook characters collide in a trilogy of twisted fairy tales. James lives in Northern Virginia and is currently at work on the next novel in the series. https://jamesrileyauthor.com

ANICA MROSE RISSI grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. After college, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a cheesemonger and book editor. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats cheese with her friends in Princeton, New Jersey, where she lives with her dog, Arugula. As a former editor turned full-time writer, Anica has spoken with kids and adults across the country about all stages of the writing process, from ideas and drafting to revisions and beyond. She is the author of the Anna, Banana chapter-book series; the picture books WATCH OUT FOR WOLF!, THE TEACHER’S PET, and LOVE, SOPHIA ON THE MOON; the middle grade scary story collection HIDE AND DON’T SEEK; and the YA novels ALWAYS FOREVER MAYBE and NOBODY KNOWS BUT YOU. Her essays have been published by The Writer magazine and the New York Times, and she plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves. Her newest book, WISHING SEASON, is a middle grade novel about a girl grappling with the recent loss of her twin brother. http://www.anicarissi.com

MAR ROMASCO-MOORE is the author of the novels DEADSTREAM, I AM THE GHOST IN YOUR HOUSE, KRAZYLAND, and SOME KIND OF ANIMAL, as well as the multimedia flash fiction collection GHOSTOGRAPHS. They teach writing at Columbus College of Art and Design. https://marromascomoore.com/

EDEN ROYCE is a Geechee from Charleston, South Carolina, now living in the Garden of England with her husband and cat. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, and she is a recipient of the Speculative Literature Foundation’s Diverse Worlds grant, a Walter Award Honoree, and a Shirley Jackson Award finalist. She writes for children and adults, and her titles include ROOT MAGIC, CONJURE ISLAND, THE CREEPENING OF DOGWOOD HOUSE, PSYCHOPOMP & CIRCUMSTANCE, and THE HAINT-BLUE HEART. https://edenroyce.com/

SARA RYAN (they/them) is the author of the graphic novel BAD HOUSES with art by Carla Speed McNeil, young adult novels THE RULES FOR HEARTS and EMPRESS OF THE WORLD, and various comics, short stories, and essays. They are on the faculty of the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Sara’s middle grade novel, MOUNTAIN UPSIDE DOWN, follows 13-year-old Alex, who has finally worked up the courage to ask her best friend PJ if they could be girlfriends, but a series of unexpected disasters and discoveries throws everything—from Alex's new relationship status to the shape of her family—into turmoil. https://sararyan.com 

J. SCOTT SAVAGE is the author of several series for young readers, including Case File 13, Farworld, the Mysteries of Cove, and The Lost Wonderland Diaries. He lives in Utah with his wife and children. His latest series is Graysen Foxx, School Treasure Hunter, which begins with GRAYSEN FOXX AND THE TREASURE OF PRINCIPAL REDBEARD and continues with GRAYSEN FOXX AND THE CURSE OF THE ILLUMINERDY. He latest book is the first in the Quantum Interstellar Sports League series, illustrated by Brandon Dorman, about an uncoordinated kid who gets selected through contractual mishap to lead a team of tweens in an intergalactic football tournament against aliens, with the fate of the Earth at stake. jscottsavage.com   

KEVIN JOHN SCOTT has experienced a dozen peculiar occupations all over the world. Detective, computer nerd, actor and entrepreneur. Scandinavia, America, the Balkans. And all of it in search of stories. The more peculiar the better. He is the author of FREDERIK SANDWICH AND THE EARTHQUAKE THAT COULDN’T POSSIBLE BE and FREDERIK SANDWICH AND THE MAYOR WHO LOST HER MARBLES.

FRANCESCO SEDITA is the co-author (with Prescott Seraydarian) of the middle grade graphic novel series The Pathfinders Society, which begins with THE MYSTERY OF THE MOON TOWER and continues with THE CURSE OF THE CRYSTAL CAVERN and THE LEGEND OF THE LOST BOY. He’s also the author of the Miss Popularity chapter book series, the co-creator (with Prescott Seraydarian) of the Emmy-winning Who Was? show on Netflix, and the author of many other books through his role at Penguin Young Readers. Most recently, he is the author of THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK I WILL READ TO YOU, illustrated by Magenta Fox, a picture book about a new dad getting ready to share his love of reading with his baby for the very first time, and OUR ITALIAN CHRISTMAS EVE, co-written by his sister Danielle Sedita and illustrated by Luciano Lozano, a festive tribute to food and family. When he isn't making stuff, Francesco is cooking in his apartment in New York City, or binge-watching a series with his husband, or playing with their cute cat, Alfredo. francescosedita.com   

SUZANNE SELFORS is a native of the Pacific Northwest and holds a master’s degree in Communications from the University of Washington. Her books include the oddly delightful middle grade novels TO CATCH A MERMAID, FORTUNE’S MAGIC FARM, WISH UPON A SLEEPOVER, BRAVER: A WOMBAT’S TALE, co-authored with Walker Ranson, and RATTY. Her young adult novels SAVING JULIET, COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL, MAD LOVE, and THE SWEETEST SPELL, are known for their comedy, romance, and heart. She is the author of the Imaginary Veterinary series, the Ever After High (A School Story) series, the Wedgie & Gizmo series, the Smells Like Dog series, and most recently the Willow’s Woods series, beginning with SAM SQUIRREL, which follows the great-granddaughter of Mother Nature as she teams up with a squirrel to start the spring season. https://www.suzanneselfors.com 

N.H. SENZAI writes for children and young adults. Her first middle grade novel was the APALA Award winner SHOOTING KABUL, which tells the story of an Afghani family fleeing to the United States just before the events of September 11, 2001. She is also the author of SAVING KABUL CORNER, about a decades old family feud from the old country that threatens to destroy the families’ news lives in America; TICKET TO INDIA, a contemporary novel about the Great Partition; ESCAPE FROM ALEPPO, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a Winter 2017-2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick, about a girl whose family has to flee their home when the Arab Spring sparks a civil war; and FLYING OVER WATER, a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, which she co-authored with Shannon Hitchcock, which follows a Muslim girl fleeing civil war and an American girl from the South as they are forced to examine their beliefs and the true meaning of friendship in the midst of the president’s 2017 Muslim ban. Her newest book is PRINCE AMONG SLAVES, a picture book biography of Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori, a Muslim West African prince turned enslaved plantation worker, and his lifelong fight to be free and return home.  nhsenzai.com  

PRESCOTT SERAYDARIAN is the co-author (with Francesco Sedita) of the middle grade graphic novel series The Pathfinders Society, which begins with THE MYSTERY OF THE MOON TOWER and continues with THE CURSE OF THE CRYSTAL CAVERN and THE LEGEND OF THE LOST BOY. He is also a children's video producer and educator, and the owner-director of Lunch Productions, an award-winning production company whose partners include Penguin Random House, Scholastic, and NBC Universal. He also teaches film and lives at the George School, a Quaker boarding school in Newtown, PA.  

ANDREW SMITH is the author of GHOST MEDICINE, IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS, THE MARBURY LENS, STICK, and WINGER, all of which have been on YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list. Other works include STAND-OFF, a sequel to WINGER; PASSENGER, the sequel to MARBURY LENS; 100 SIDEWAYS MILES, which was long listed for the National Book Award; GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE, a 2015 Michael L. Printz Honor Book, Winner of the 2014 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction, a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize, and a Best Book of the Year at Kirkus and School Library Journal; THE ALEX CROW, recipient of five starred reviews and named one of the best YA novels of the year by Kirkus; and RABBIT & ROBOT, recipient of multiple starred reviews, about a boy who’s stranded on the Tennessee—his father’s lunar-cruise utopia—with insane robots. Most recently, he is the author of the middle grade novel THE SIZE OF THE TRUTH and its sequel, BYE-BYE, BLUE CREEK, about a boy preparing to leave home for the first time—until monsters move in next door. www.authorandrewsmith.com

BRANDON T. SNIDER is the best-selling author of the award-winning DARK KNIGHT MANUAL, as seen in Entertainment Weekly, Time, Forbes, and Wired as well as the AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR: THE COSMIC QUEST series. Additionally, he's written books featuring Cartoon Network favorites like Adventure Time and Regular Show, Marvel's Spider-Man and Black Panther, plus pop culture icons such as Justice League, Star Wars, and The Muppets. He is also the author of BEEZER, a middle grade Audible original about a kid Beelzebub, who has been banished to Earth. Brandon has also written for and appeared on Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer. As an actor he's appeared on High Fidelity, The Deuce, Bull, Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Law & Order: SVU, as well as various commercials, plays and short films. Brandon lives in New York City, where he's a member of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. http://www.cootiekid.com

ERIN SODERBERG DOWNING writes novels for kids and teens. Under Erin Downing, she published her debut middle grade novel, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER (OR UNTIL SOMEONE BETTER COMES ALONG), about a mean girl trying to change her reputation. Her other books include, FOR SOCCER-CRAZY GIRLS ONLY, NONE OF THE REGULAR RULES, MOON SHADOW, CONTROLLED BURN, and the series SpacePop, The Quirks, Puppy Pirates, and The Great Peach Experiment. Her latest book for young readers is JUST KEEP WALKING , a story of resilience and the healing and restorative power of wilderness and nature. https://www.erinsoderberg.com

AARON STARMER is the author of DWEEB, THE ONLY ONES, MEME, SPONTANEOUS—made into a feature film—and the acclaimed Riverman series. He is also the author of the Locker 37 series for young readers, about a school locker that provides solutions to any problem, and A MILLION VIEWS, a heartfelt story about a boy who just wants to make a video and get a million views—but he doesn’t count on needing friends to get there. His newest series for young readers is MATH MYSTERIES, page-turning mysteries brimming with lighthearted intrigue and essential middle-grade math skills. Aaron lives with his family in Vermont. aaronstarmer.com 

CHRISTINE VIRNIG is a former physician who penned the Junior Library Guild Gold selection middle grade nonfiction works DUNG FOR DINNER and WAIST-DEEP IN DUNG and makes her fiction debut with the novel A BITE ABOVE THE REST. https://christinevirnig.com/

TRACEY EDWARD WYMER is a teacher and author of the middle-grade novel SOAR, as well as a contributor to the anthology BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: WRITING STORIES FROM REAL LIFE.
www.tracyedwardwymer.com

LESLIE C. YOUNGBLOOD is the author of LOVE LIKE SKY. She received an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She’s been awarded a host of writing honors including a 2014 Yaddo’s Elizabeth Ames Residency, the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Prize, a Hurston Wright Fellowship, and the Room of Her Own Foundation’s 2009 Orlando Short Story Prize.

SARA ZARR is the critically-acclaimed author of the National Book Award Finalist STORY OF A GIRL, a moving first novel that deals with forgiveness and redemption; SWEETHEARTS, about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts; WHAT WE LOST (first published as ONCE WAS LOST), which examines the coexistence of affliction and hope; HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, a beautifully told story of two lives intersecting, unexpectedly, and what it means to be a family; THE LUCY VARIATIONS, about a girl’s struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself; ROOMIES, which she co-authored with Tara Altebrando; GEM & DIXIE, about the unshakeable bond of sisterhood; GOODBYE FROM NOWHERE, about the courage it takes to see those we love for who they are; and her debut middle grade novel A SONG CALLED HOME, about the small moments that show us who we are, and how family is not just something you’re part of, but something you make. She is also the author of the nonfiction book COURAGEOUS CREATIVITY: ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE CREATIVE LIFE. Sara’s newest book is KYRA, JUST FOR TODAY, a deeply personal story about a young girl, her alcoholic mother, and the hope that ties them together. sarazarr.com