DR. ANN BOADEN and DR. KARÏN YOUNGBERG, who have written two novels for young readers together under the name Ann Young, teach at Augustana College. They have published two novels , The Mystery of the Singing Mermaid and The Nine Days’ Wonder. Ann Boaden’s newest book Light and Leaven: Women Who Shaped Augustana’s First Century was released this spring. Karin Youngberg teaches courses in Early Modern Literature, with a special emphasis on Shakespeare. WILLIAM HANNAN added his experience as an illustrator to their presentation. He has also spent many years teaching at Black Hawk College in Moline.

RYAN COLLINS is the author of the chapbook Complicated Weather (Rock Town Press). His work has appeared recently in Third Coast, Sentence, Great Coat, and Leveler. He lives in the Quad Cities.

CARA FONTEYNE and SUZY SANCHEZ are Quad City natives with a love for animals. Suzy began riding horses and writing about them at 9 years old. Cara has always had a love for drawing and animals. Suzy wrote, and Cara illustrated, the book Cooper Moves In. COOPER, the horse, joined them during their presentation.

PAVANE GORREPATI and RAMYA PRABHU are the author and illustrator, of A Buzzy Bee Tale, a picture book about a bee and his efforts to help his family and friends whose environment has been affected by global climate change. Both are seniors and honor students at Rivermont Collegiate. Pavane serves as a local correspondent for the Mother Nature Network website, writing stories about environmental issues . Ramya, sole creator of all graphics for the 2011 Wheel, Rivermont’s yearbook, is a leader in the Environmental club and chair of the E-waste disposal project. Their goal is simple: inspire others to protect the environment.

ANN HAILEY is the author and photographer of the Fishscale Girl series. Ann has taught elementary school, including English as a Second Language (ESL) for grades K-5. Visit Fishscale girl and her friends at www.FishscaleGirl.com

BELINDA HOLBROOK learned to play a string game called Cat’s Cradle from her grandmother. Now a teacher, she shares string figures with her students at Davenport’s Harrison Elementary School. She is the author of String Stories: A Creative, Hands-On Approach for Engaging Children in Literature.

LISA RIEBE is the author of Pond Punkies – The Arrival and Pond Punkies – The Departure. She lives with her family in Illinois. For more information about Lisa and the continuing adventures of Pond Punkies, visit www.pondpunkies.com. MIRIAM OFSTEIN presented in tandem with Lisa as the illustrator of the third Pond Punkie book. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Creative Writing. She currently works as an editor, proofreader, and freelance author. Miriam has enjoyed getting to know the Pond Punkie gang and can't wait to see where their adventures take them next.

CHRIS TURNIPSEED is a long-time teacher-librarian at Davenport’s Adams School and a gifted storyteller. In the fall she taught a children’s literature course at Augustana College.