Kelly J. Baptist won the Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship for her YA novel-in-progress, Young. While visiting the Kerlan Collection, Kelly had the privilege of studying the dialogue techniques of the great Walter Dean Myers. Fast-forward a few years, and Kelly was fortunate enough to meet Myers at a literary event in Florida. A native of southwest Michigan, Kelly enjoys life with her husband and five children, who give her plenty of inspiration for writing. Though her busy family life often results in having to type with one hand, Kelly is committed to using the written word to inspire and transform lives. Find her online at kellyiswrite.com.
Soman Chainani is an award-winning filmmaker and the New York Times bestselling author of the School for Good and Evil series, which has been translated into more than twenty-five languages. His film work has screened at hundreds of festivals worldwide, and The School for Good and Evil will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Studios, with Soman writing the screenplay. He grew up idolizing both Walt Disney and Madonna and is determined to find a career that allows him to be a little bit of both. His story “Flying Lessons” is based on the trips he took with his own glamorous, madcap Nani, who taught him that the greatest joys of the world are in its differences. Soman lives in New York City. Visit him online at somanchainani.net.
Matt de la Pe?a is the author of many critically acclaimed young adult novels, among them The Living, a Pura Belpré Honor Book; Ball Don’t Lie; Mexican White Boy; We Were Here; and I Will Save You. He is also the author of the award-winning picture books A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis (illustrated by Kadir Nelson) and Newbery Medal winner Last Stop on Market Street (illustrated by Christian Robinson). Matt says: “Walter Dean Myers is one of my greatest literary heroes. He was a brave, authentic storyteller who paved the way for all of the exciting diverse voices we’re seeing in print today.” Matt lives in Brooklyn, New York. Reach him online at mattdelapena.com.
Tim Federle’s debut novel, Better Nate Than Ever, was named a New York Times Notable Children’s Book and a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, and Slate.com, in addition to receiving a Stonewall Honor. Five, Six, Seven, Nate!—the sequel to Better Nate Than Ever—won the Lambda Literary Award, and together the Nate books were called “one of the best new middle-grade series” by School Library Journal. With Claudia Shear, Tim is also the co-librettist of the Broadway musical adaptation of Tuck Everlasting. He believes that all kinds of kids deserve all kinds of stories. A native of Pittsburgh, Tim divides his time between New York and the Internet. Connect with Tim there on Twitter and Instagram at @TimFederle or on his website timfederle.com.
Grace Lin’s Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was chosen for Today’s Al Roker’s Book Club for Kids and was a New York Times bestseller. She is the author and illustrator of more than a dozen picture books, including The Ugly Vegetables and Dim Sum for Everyone! Her first early reader, Ling & Ting, was awarded a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor. Most of Grace’s books are about the Asian American experience, and she was recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change for AAPI Art and Storytelling in 2016. Her story “The Difficult Path” was partially inspired by Ching Shih, the legendary female pirate who ruled the sea during the Qing dynasty. Grace lives in Massachusetts and can be found online at gracelin.com.
Meg Medina is an award-winning Cuban American author who writes picture books, middle grade, and YA fiction. She won the Pura Belpré Award and the Cybils Award for Young Adult Fiction for her novel Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, and a Pura Belpré Honor for her picture book Mango, Abuela and Me. Her most recent novel is Burn Baby Burn. Meg celebrates Latino families in her books by writing stories about how culture impacts the everyday drama of growing up. Meg lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia. Learn more about her online at megmedina.com.
A prolific author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, Walter Dean Myers received every major award in the field of children’s literature. He won two Newbery Honors, eleven Coretta Scott King Author Awards and Honors, three National Book Award finalists, and the first Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. He was the first recipient of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. From 2012 to 2013, he served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature with the platform “Reading is not optional.” On a Clear Day, Juba!, and Monster: A Graphic Novel were published posthumously. Myers’s full list of works is available at walterdeanmyers.net.