Speakers

Featured Speakers
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Craig McFarland Brown was born and raised near Tama, Iowa. After graduating from high school in 1965 he left Iowa to attend art school where he became interested in children's books. Later, while working in advertising, he created a portfolio and in 1988 his first book, The Talking Bird and the Storypouch, which was published by Harper. Recent publications include Barn Raising (Greenwillow); a story set in an Amish Community near Kalona, Iowa—written and illustrated by Craig Brown, and How to Raise a Raisin (Charlesbridge), written by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Craig Brown.

Stacy Cantor has been an editor at Bloomsbury Children’s Books since 2005, previously working as a writer for a book packager in Chicago, Illinois. Stacy’s interests lie primarily in literary young adult fiction and vibrant read-aloud picture books. Her favorite projects thus far have been two forthcoming novels called Dragon Slippers and Notes From the Teenage Underground, and a Choose Your Own Adventure-style series for tween girls called Date Him or Dump Him? Stacy also spent a summer as an intern for Viking Children’s Books, where she honed her skills reading the slush pile.

Becky Clark Cornwell, a highly functioning chocoholic and RMC-SCBWI co-Regional Advisor is the author of An Uncivil War-The Boys Who Were Left Behind, and Reading Maniac: Fun Ways To Encourage Reading Success, both of which she promotes constantly to anyone who will listen.

Olgy Gary is an author, game designer, editor, ghostwriter and consultant from Colorado Springs. Her cross-cultural simulation, The Luna Game, has been extensively used by trainers worldwide. She has worked as a ghost writer in 20+ books, all of which became best sellers for the publishers. She is originally from Cuba and holds an M.A. in Instructional Design, with an emphasis on experience-based learning resources and cross-cultural communication. She also maintains several author and educational sites, including her own, www.childrencomefirst.com.

Danlyn Iantorno is an artist with over twenty five years of professional experience in the arts, and an avid children's writer. Current book projects are with Pelican Publishing, Pacific Learning, Teacher Created Resources and Good Neighbor Press.

Marianne Mitchell is the award-winning author of eight children's books, including the picture books Joe Cinders, Gullywasher Gulch, and Maya Moon. Her mid-grade novels include Finding Zola and Firebug. She also has published more than ninety stories and articles in national children's magazines such as Highlights for Children and Pockets.

Todd Mitchell’s first novel, The Traitor King, is coming out with Scholastic Press in the spring of 2007. Todd earned his MFA in Fiction from Colorado State University. He published several short stories and essays for adult audiences before he realized that YA is where it’s at. He currently serves as the Director of the Creative Writing Teaching Program at Colorado State University, where he teaches creative writing, literature, and creative nonfiction. He also teaches poetry to children.

Roz Monette is the author of an edgy fiction series for mature young-adult readers. The first book, Alex and the Enderson Brothers, was released in July 2006. The second book, Invisible Shadow, is coming in May 2007 from Wheatmark Publishing. Roz is learning to master the ultimate balancing act of wife, mother, writer, and day job.

Laura Resau is an author, ESL teacher, and anthropologist living in Fort Collins. Her novels, for ages 10 and up, are set in indigenous Latin American communities. Her first novel, What the Moon Saw (Delacorte), was released in Fall 2006, and has been receiving much recognition. In addition to receiving starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and School Library Journal, it has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Parents´ Choice Recommended book, and one of Booklist´s Top Ten First Novels of 2006. Her next novel, Red Glass, will be available Fall 2007.

Shawn Shea has illustrated over 18 children's books, including mass market trade books, picture books, science/activity books, Reader's Theater books, and easy readers. He has written and provided illustrations for three picture books and a middle grade chapter book that are "being shopped" as they say. His editorial illustrations have won national awards from Communication Arts and The NY Society of Illustrators. His wildlife and landscape paintings are in private collections across the United States. He has an amazingly perfect 10-month-old grandson who proves Galileo was wrong about exactly WHAT the world revolves around!

Linda Arms White is the author of fiction and nonfiction books for kids. Her picture books, Too Many Pumpkins (Holiday House) and Comes A Wind (DK INK), have been recognized with awards such as: ABA Pick of the List Book, Children’s Choice Book, Amazon.com’s 10 most recommended Halloween Books three years in a row, NYPL’s Best 100 Books for Reading and Sharing, Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Awards, and more. I Could Do That won a prestigious Christopher Award for film, TV, and books that affirm the highest values of the human spirit. It has also been recognized as a Junior Library Guild selection, has received a video contract from Scholastic Weston Woods, was a Bank Street Book College Children’s Book Committees' monthly pick, and many, many others. Holiday House has just purchased her manuscript Too Many Turkeys. Linda also co-owns Children's Authors' Bootcamp, with Laura Backes and through Bootcamp, travels the country helping writers prefect their skills.