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Gary Schmidt is an author of children's literature and young adult fiction. Recent novels include Orbiting Jupiter (2015) a novel about a young father hoping to find his daughter; Jupiter Rising (the sequel to Orbiting Jupiter—2024); Pay Attention, Carter Jones (2019) a novel about a young boy who strangely takes up cricket; and Just Like That (2021) which follows a young girl as she begins a year of boarding school in New England—all published by Houghton Mifflin.
His newest books are The Labors of Hercules Beal (2023), chronicling the attempt by a middle school boy to follow the steps of the mythic Hercules; A Day at the Beach (2025) with Ron Koertge; and A Little Bit Super (2023), co-edited with Leah Henderson, a collection of stories about middle school kids who each have a minor superpower. His first graphic novel—The Tales of Marushja—will be out in 2027.He has also contributed to the Star Wars anthology From a Certain Point of View: Star Wars (2017) in writing the only chapter from Yoda's point of view.
He has received two John Newbery Honor Awards which recognizes "the most distinguished contribution[s] to American literature for children" from the American Library Association, the first in 2005 for his novel Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy and the second in 2008 for his novel Wednesday Wars. His Okay for Now –also a graphic novel—was a finalist for the National Book Award.
Schmidt has also co-edited two volumes on religiously-themed fiction called The Emmaus Readers and has written university press books on the American writer Hannah Adams, the history of American children’s books, and the medieval image of the mouth of hell. Schmidt received his undergraduate degree in English from Gordon College in 1979. Thereafter he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, receiving an MA in English in 1981 and then a PhD in medieval literature in 1985. He joined the faculty in the Calvin University English department in 1985, and has additionally taught at the MFA program at Hamline University, at Robert Handlon State Prison in Ionia County, and with Whale Rock, a mentoring organization for writers of children’s literature. Gary D. Schmidt lives on a 200-year-old farm in Alto, Michigan, where he splits wood, plants gardens, writes, and manages Border collies.
Saadia Faruqi
Saadia Faruqi
Featured Author
Featured Author
Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American writer, interfaith activist, and cultural sensitivity trainer featured in O, The Oprah Magazine. Author of the Yasmin chapter book series, Saadia also writes middle grade novels, such as Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero, and other books for children. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, an online magazine of poetry, short stories, and art. Besides writing, she also loves reading, binge-watching her favorite shows, and taking naps. She lives in Houston with her family.
Session 1: Thursday, March 5 from 10:00 am - 10:30 am PST
Session 2: Thursday, March 5 from 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm PST
*Both sessions are identical. Please register for the time that will best suit your schedule.
Is Bryan Patrick Avery a spy? He says no, but would he tell us if he was? What we do know is Bryan is an award-winning poet and author of more than twenty-five books for children, including two early chapter book series, Mr. Grizley’s Class and Milo Gray’s Imagination adventures, as well as the collective biography Black Men in Science. Bryan lives in Northern California with his family.
Vong Bidania
Vong Bidania
V.T. Bidania is the author of the Astrid & Apollo and Extraordinary Eliana chapter books and the middle grade novel A Year Without Home. She was born in Laos and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, right where Eliana and her family live! She has an MFA in creative writing from The New School, is a McKnight Writing Fellow, and lives outside the Twin Cities with her family.
Christine Day is a citizen of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Her debut novel, I Can Make This Promise, was an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book, and an NPR Best Book of the Year. The Sea in Winter was an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book, a finalist for the Pacific Northwest Book Award, and a Top 10 Indie Kids' Next List Selection. We Still Belong was an American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner. She also wrote She Persisted: Maria Tallchief, a nonfiction chapter book in Chelsea Clinton's series about inspirational women. Christine lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.
Kate Allen Fox is an award-winning children’s author from southern California. After working in public health, she combined her passions for science and the written word and began writing picture books that inspire wonder and curiosity about the natural world, including: Pando: A Living Wonder of Trees (Capstone, 2021), which was named a Best
Book of 2021 by School Library Journal and the Chicago Public Library, and was a finalist for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award; A Few Beautiful Minutes (Little, Brown, 2023); and Solstice Wish (Beaming Books, 2024). Her essays have appeared in several publications, including The New York Times and McSweeney’s. In addition to being a writer, Kate is a speaker, arts educator, and homeschooler.
Session: Friday, March 6 from 11:00 am - 11:30 am PST
Stephen Gorman is an internationally recognized wildlife photographer and best-selling author. His work focuses on how cultural values and national mythologies shape our relationships to the world we live in and the diverse societies with which we share it. Gorman is the author and photographer of several books, including The American Wilderness: Journeys into Distant and Historic Landscapes and Northeastern Wilds: Journeys of Discovery in the Northern Forest. He also won the Benjamin Franklin Award for Arctic Visions: Encounters at the Top of the World, a book commissioned by the Inuit of Nunavik in Canada.
Throughout his career, Gorman has worked on cultural and environmental assignments for leading periodicals such as National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and Sierra. His most recent exhibitions include Down to the Bone, a collaboration with beloved New Yorker artist Edward Koren at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, and Visions of Inuit Life—Photographs by Stephen Gorman at the Museo del Oro in Bogota, Colombia.
Meg Eden Kuyatt is a middle grade and YA author of novels including the Schneider Family Book Award Honor-winning “Good Different,” “The Girl in the Walls” and “Perfect Enough,” all with Scholastic. When she isn’t writing, she teaches creative writing students.
Lydia Ludkidis
Lydia Ludkidis
Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of more than 50 children’sbooks. At the tenderage of 6, she began reading and writing. Sheloves all animals, including bats, and hereternal curiosity led herto study science. Today, she incorporates her studies in scienceintoher work and loves writing about STEM topics. Her bookDeep,Deep, Down:The SecretUnderwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench(Capstone, 2023) is a Crystal Kite winner, Forestof Reading SilverBirch Express Honor, and Cybils Award nominee. Lydia lives inMontreal,Canada, with her daughter, who also loves science.
Amy Newbold grew up making snowmen during Utah winters. She learned to read at age four and has been reading and writing ever since. If she were to paint a snowman, she would paint with dots like George Seurat. Her favorite dinosaur is a stegosaurus. Amy wrote her first monster story in elementary school.
Amy loves to travel and to spend time with her family. She is an avid board game player and has a deep appreciation for chocolate. When not traveling, Amy enjoys exploring the world through books.
Greg Newbold has been drawing and painting the world around him since the age of three. He studied Illustration at both Brigham Young University and the University of Hartford Art School. He loves that his job lets him create artwork every day.
Greg has illustrated a dozen books for children and worked with many major publishers and corporate clients. His art has received honors from the Society of Illustrators (NYC), Communication Arts, Spectrum and 3x3, as well as numerous awards from the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles.
When not illustrating, Greg also loves to paint contemporary western landscapes and go on road trips with his family.
Session: Wednesday, March 4 from 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm PST
NY Times Bestselling Author-Illustrator (and Reno resident!) Apryl Stott grew up drawing and making delightful creative messes. Her first story, “How to Get Rid of My Baby Sister,” was written in third grade. Since then, she has learned to be kind to her sister and to clean up after herself—mostly. She spends her days working in her studio, listening to podcasts, and picking up after her daughter’s delightful creative messes.
Apryl has been honored with a Northern Lights Book Award, named a Barnes & Noble national pick, had her work featured in a national story time with Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, and has had multiple books printed as Barnes & Noble "Special Editions."
Gina Usufzy is a Nevada-based author who loves sharing stories inspired by her family, especially her son Maverick. As a busy hockey mom and the founder of the Jake Kielbs Hockey Foundation, Gina spends her days cheering from the stands, running youth hockey programs, and finding creative ways to give back to her community.
Her writing comes straight from the heart, blending real-life experiences with relatable characters and messages about family, friendship, and working together. Gina’s latest book, The Old Barn, is a touching story about resilience and community, inspired by her love for youth sports and her own journey as a mom.
When she’s not writing or managing the hustle and bustle of life with three kids and two dogs, Gina enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband, exploring new ideas, and connecting with her community. She’s excited to be part of Nevada’s Reading Week and can’t wait to share her love of books and storytelling with students and families across the state.
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