Meet the Authors
Charlotte Agell
Charlotte Agell is the author/illustrator of many books for children, as well as a handbook for educators. Charlotte’s award include the Maine Literary Award and the Lupine Honor. A longtime teacher, she is originally from Sweden.
Samara Cole Doyon
Samara Cole Doyon She is a poet and educator, holding a BA in English, with graduate-level teacher training from the University of Southern Maine. She is also a children’s book author, winning both a Lupine Award and an International Literacy Association Award for her debut picture book, Magnificent Homespun Brown (Tilbury House Publishers, January, 2020). Her second children’s book, Magic Like That (Lee & Low Books, September, 2021), earned a starred review from Kirkus and made the Bookstagang Best Picture Books of 2021 list. Samara works at Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and resides with her husband, two children, and rescue pup in Lewiston.
Katie Coppens
Katie Coppens teaches middle school science and writes STEM-themed books. Katie's been a finalist for a Maine Literacy Award for young people's literature in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and won the 2022 Ben Franklin Award (gold) and Nautilus Award (gold) for Young Adult nonfiction. She is currently a finalist from Maine for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Melanie Conklin
Melanie Conklin grew up in North Carolina and worked as a product designer before she began her writing career. She is the author of Counting Thyme, Every Missing Piece, A Perfect Mistake, Crushed (2024), and her debut picture book, When You Have to Wait (2024). Her books have won awards such as the International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choice Award, Bank Street Best Children’s Book, and nominations to five state reading lists. When she’s not writing, Melanie spends her time doodling and dreaming up new ways to be creative. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
Russ Cox
Russ Cox was raised by a pack of crazed hillbillies in the backwoods of Tennessee. Without much in the way of modern conveniences, like television or running water, he spent his time drawing, whittling, and throwing dirt clods at his cousins. With the bulk of his life spent in Pennsylvania, he met his wife; became a graphic designer; played in punk, alternative, and surf bands; had two kids; and started his own illustration studio, Smiling Otis Studio (named after one of their enormous cats). Russ creates his art using digital software, primarily Clip Studio and other digital tools. He works in traditional mediums, often with a mixture of paper, pencil, pen & ink, gouache, and watercolor. Russ lives in Maine with his wife and three cats.
Betty Culley
Betty Culley is the award-winning author of young adult and middle grade novels. She’s an RN who worked as an obstetrics nurse and as a pediatric home hospice nurse. She lives in central Maine, where the rivers run through the small towns.
Deva Fagan
Deva Fagan (she/her) is the author of The Mirrorwood, Nightingale, Rival Magic and other books for young readers. She lives in Maine with her husband and her dog. When she’s not writing she spends her time reading, playing video games, doing geometry, and drinking copious amounts of tea.
Alexandra Hinrichs
Alexandra Hinrichs is the award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction picture books, including THE POCKET BOOK, THE LOBSTER LADY, I AM MADE OF MOUNTAINS, THE TRAVELING CAMERA, and THÉRÈSE MAKES A TAPESTRY. She holds MAs in U.S. History and in Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For the past three years she has been a middle school librarian. She makes her home in Bangor, Maine with her husband, three wild sons, and two tame cats. When she isn’t buried in books, she can be found baking, hiking, kayaking, or playing board games!
Jannie Ho
Jannie Ho loves making books for kids. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Philadelphia, Jannie is the illustrator of the early reader graphic novel FRY GUYS with Eric Geron. She is also the author/illustrator of HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR, a Festive Counting Story, BEAR AND CHICKEN, and the upcoming THE LOST MITTEN. Jannie is the creator of the comic SUPER CHICKEN AND SHELLY, which is a regular feature in Highlights for Children's High Five Magazine. She lives in the greater Boston area with her family.
Fran Hodgkins
Fran Hodgkins grew up in Massachusetts, where she attended college to study journalism. She knew she wasn't going to be a very good reporter, but has found her niche as a children's book author. She lives in Rockport, Maine, with her family, including a dog, three cats, and a cranky rabbit.
Jamie Hogan
Jamie Hogan is an award-winning illustrator, educator, and author often inspired by her seaside life three miles out to sea on Peaks Island. She lives with her husband and daughter, both artists, and feels grateful to experience the raw beauty that is Maine.
Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Jennifer has spent three decades writing award-winning fiction and nonfiction for children. Amongst her titles are picture books: THIS IS MY ROOM (NO TIGERS ALLOWED) and OH, CHICKADEE!; chapter books: Andy Shane series and Twig and Turtle series; middle grade novels: SMALL AS AN ELEPHANT, PAPER THINGS, THE DOLLAR KIDS, CRASHING IN LOVE; and young adult novels: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF WHY I HATE HER and STAINED. She lives in mid-coast Maine with her husband.
George Jreije
George is the Lebanese-American author of the Shad Hadid children's fantasy series as well as the upcoming graphic novel, Tarik’s Bazaar Adventure, both with HarperCollins. He is currently serving as the inaugural writer-in-residence for the historic Concord Free Library in Massachusetts. When not writing, he enjoys visiting schools and conferences as a lecturer, scouring the world for delicious food, and messing with new yoga poses.
Angela Kunkel
Angela Burke Kunkel is the author of DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSE ALBERTO GUTIERREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book and winner of both the Americas Award and International Latino Book Award. She is also the author of PENGUIN JOURNEY and MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS: THE STORY OF ROBERT MCCLOSKEY, NANCY SCHON, AND SOME VERY FAMOUS DUCKLINGS. Angela lives with her family in Vermont, where she works as a school librarian.
Rajani LaRocca
Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor winning middle grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. Learn more about Rajani and her books at www.RajaniLaRocca.com. She also co-hosts the STEM Women in KidLit Podcast.
Anica Mrose Rissi
Anica Mrose Rissi is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books for kids and teens, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA. Her most recent books are the spooky story collection HIDE AND DON'T SEEK: AND OTHER VERY SCARY STORIES and the middle grade novel WISHING SEASON, which is set on the Maine island where Anica grew up. Anica plays fiddle in and writes lyrics for the band Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves, and spends a lot of time with her very good dog, Sweet Potato. Find out more at anicarissi.com and follow @anicarissi on Instagram and Twitter.
Matt Tavares
Matt Tavares is the author-illustrator of the New York Times best-selling picture book Dasher, as well as Red and Lulu, the graphic novel Hoops, and several sports biographies, including Becoming Babe Ruth and Growing Up Pedro. He is also the illustrator of Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Jeff Gottesfeld, The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, and Over the River and Through the Wood by L. Maria Child, among many other picture books. Matt Tavares lives in Ogunquit, Maine.
Wendy Ulmer
Wendy is a former music and English teacher and has written nine books for children and youth. Wendy has received the Teacher's Choice Award from Learning Magazine and the SCBWI Spark Award. She lives in Arrowsic, ME.
Chris Van Dusen
Chris Van Dusen is the author/illustrator of nearly 30 children’s books. His first book, Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee was released in the year 2000.
BIG TRUCK Little Island received three starred reviews and was named one of the best picture books of the 2022 by Publisher’s Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Horn Book. He lives and works in Midcoast Maine.
