2017 Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Conference

2017 Faculty

	Andrea Alban Author of nine books, including her debut teen novel Anya's War (an ALA honor book and shortlisted for China’s Panda Award) bestseller The Happiness Tree . She speaks at literary festivals, writer’s conferences, and schools. Andrea founded the Writer’s Tribe™ Feedback Forum for Children’s Writers at Book Passage.
	Lisa Abellera Literary Agent with Kimberly Cameron & Associates with an eye for strategic management and creative writing.
	Aree Chung Author and illustrator of Ninja! Before entering the world of children's books, he worked in video games as a designer and art director and earned his degree from the Art Center College of Design.
	Ying Compestine Award-winning author, inspirational speaker, spokesperson and television host, Compestine is a sought-after speaker who has lectured all over the world. Named one of the "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" by the Author's Show, she has authored over 20 books of multiple genres. Her keen interest in cuisine has led her to weave food into her writing — from cookbooks, novels, to picture books for young readers. Her highly acclaimed novel about her life growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution, Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party, has received over 33 national awards and has been selected as required reading in schools around the world. Several of her works are currently being optioned for movie adaptations, television series, and video games.
	Craig Frazier Designer and illustrator. His work is recognized internationally for its wit, optimism and simplicity. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal to name a few. Craig has created seven postage stamps for the USPS. He has published several children’s books including Stanley Goes for a Drive (Chronicle Books 2004), Trucks Roll! (Simon & Schuster 2007), Hank Finds Inspiration (Roaring Brook Press 2008). Craig is currently completing two books, Sitting and Going (Harper Collins Fall 2018). Craig runs the blog http://36pages.com reviewing his favorite picture books.
	Chris & Nina Gruener Co-Publishers and Managing Editors of Cameron + Company, a 50 + year-old book publishing company that focuses on “books that need to be books,” publishing photography, art, food/wine, and children’s books. Imprints include Cameron Studios which offers book design and packaging services to authors, artists and other book publishers and Roundtree Press publishing general nonfiction and fiction books using a hybrid publishing model.
	Robert Liu-Trujillo Author and illustrator of Furqan’s First Flat Top and employs the use of illustration, public art & storytelling to tell tales. Reflecting his cultural background, dreams, and political / personal beliefs, Robert’s desire to unearth beautiful and un-told stories led him to co-found The Trust Your Struggle Collective, be a contributor to Rad Dad & found Come Bien Books.
	Melissa Manlove Coined “Most-Marvelous Editor” by author Dionna Mann and a Senior Editor at Chronicle Books since 2004, Manlove has shepherded works such as Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and Josephine, with a focus on nonfiction works for children up to 8 years old. Her award winning work expands children’s worlds across cultures and concepts.
	Laurin Mayeno Works with organizations and schools to build inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. Inspired by her son, she wrote One of a Kind, Like Me/Único como yo, a bilingual book about a little boy who is determined to dress up as a princess. When she’s consulting, facilitating workshops, writing blog posts, or conversing with children, Laurin loves to share stories that build appreciation for diversity and encourage us to be our full selves. Learn more at mayenoconsulting.com or oneofakindlikeme.com!
	Tim McCanna Author of Bitty Bot, Barnyard Boogie, and Watersong, which received a Kirkus starred review. His upcoming picture books include Jack B. Ninja, Bitty Bot’s Big Beach Getaway, and Boing! Tim also serves as assistant regional advisor of the SCBWI San Francisco/South chapter. Visit him online at www.timmccanna.com.
	Allison Moore Editor at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, having been an Associate Editor at Little Brown Books for Young Readers and a bookseller. She is actively acquiring picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult.
	Amy Novesky Award-winning children’s book author and editor. Her picture books include Elephant Prince; Me, Frida; Georgia in Hawaii; Imogen, the Mother of Modernism and Three Boys; Mister and Lady Day; Cloth Lullaby, The Wove Life of Louis Bourgeois; Love is a Tutu and Love is a Truck. A book about Mary Blair will be published by Disney Press in 2019. Amy also wrote Natumi Takes the Lead and Disney/Pixar's Three Little Words.
	Todd Parr Author and illustrator of more than 45 books for children, including the New York Times bestselling The I Love You Book, The Earth Book, and The Thankful Book.
	Paige Peterson Co-author of the bestselling book, Blackie, The Horse Who Stood Still, which she also illustrated. Working closely with Christopher Cerf, an award-winning author and television producer, she was researcher and editor on several books co-authored by Cerf, including The Experts Speak and Mission Accomplished.
	Kate Schatz Author of Rad Women Worldwide series published by local publisher, 10 Speed Press.
	Jennifer Soloway Soloway worked in marketing in several industries with a focus on children, including toys. Eventually she returned to her first love, literature, and completed a MFA in English and Creative Writing with an emphasis on young adult literature. At the Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshop, she was introduced to the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She became an assistant to super-star Executive Agent Laura Rennert and discovered that she loved reviewing contracts, writing pitches and strategic planning on behalf of their clients. After working with ABLA’s Laura Perkins, Soloway is now an Associate Agent.
	Miriam Klein Stahl Bay Area artist, educator and activist, is the New York Times-bestselling illustrator of Rad American Women A-Z and Rad Women Worldwide of 10 Speed Press
	Andy Weiner Longtime book publishing professional, having worked in sales and management for Penguin Books, Random House, Chronicle Books and is currently with Abrams Books. He is the author of Down By the River, which will be published in 2018.
	Mina Witteman Children’s author of dark YA and adventurous MG, picture books and short stories, Witteman writes in both English and Dutch. Boreas en de vier windstreken/Boreas and the Four Winds, her latest MG, is the third book in the highly praised Boreas series (Boreas en de zeven zeeën/Boreas and the Seven Seas; Boreas en de duizend eilanden/Boreas and the Thousand Islands). She has a Dutch little golden book out: Mia’s Nest (Spanish edition: El nido de Mia), and over 40 short stories in magazines and read-aloud anthologies. Witteman is a university trained and seasoned freelance editor (Master Book Editing, University of Amsterdam), a coach to budding writers, and an accredited Creative Writing Teacher. She is the International Published Authors’ Coordinator for the SCBWI. Previously, she was the Regional Advisor for SCBWI The Netherlands and Chairman of the Working Group Children’s Books of the Dutch Authors Guild.
	Natasha Yim Children's author, freelance writer, and playwright. Yim’s first picture book, Otto's Rainy Day, was a Kids' Pick of the Lists selection. She went onto to write two picture book biographies for elementary age children, Cixi, The Dragon Empress and Sacajawea of the Shoshone for local micro-publisher Goosebottom Books. After a nine-year publishing journey, Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas, a multicultural re-telling of the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story, was published by Charlesbridge Publishing and is a Junior Library Guild and Scholastic Book Club selection. Natasha’s latest book, The Rock Maiden, re-envisions a Chinese folk tale was released by Wisdom Tales Press this spring.

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