Jennifer Richard Jacobson grew up in a family of storytellers. “My brothers,” she says, “had the ability to make us laugh until our bellies hurt. I wasn’t as hilarious, but I learned how to take the mishaps in life (especially the embarrassments) and turn them into a dramatic story.” Jennifer is the author of the middle grade novels Paper Things and Small as an Elephant, and the Andy Shane picture book series, among others. She lives in Maine with her husband and Jack Russell terrier. Visit her at JenniferJacobson.com.

Alexandria Neonakis lives in Santa Monica, California with her boyfriend and two cats. She was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, an eastern maritime province where she spent most of her time outdoors in the beautiful coastal Atlantic and forest landscapes. Her main goal is to create images that have strong emotional impact. She pulls inspiration from childhood memories, nature, animated films, and classic illustration, and tries to combine character with lighting, strong color direction, and staging to help sell a moment. She spends most of her free time painting, visiting museums, and hiking the amazing parks of southern California.