2008 Presenters by Genre: Children's and/or Young
Adults
Lois Brandt
 Lois Brandt writes and sells short fiction to the children’s magazine market. In 2005 she won the Pockets Magazine contest with her short story Soccer Prayers. Lois received her MFA in August 2007 from the Whidbey Island Writers Association. Lois lives in Issaquah, Washington, with her husband, three children, two cats, and a reality-challenged dog. She recently completed her first middle grade novel, Wearing Vietnam. http://www.loisbrandt.com/ |
- Kirby Larson
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 Kirby
Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newbery Honor Book, Hattie Big Sky,
a young adult novel she wrote inspired by her great-grandmother,
Hattie Inez Brooks Wright, who homesteaded by herself in eastern
Montana as a young woman. In addition, Kirby has written three
books for children, including the award-winning picture book, The Magic Kerchief. A frequent speaker, Kirby has presented
at more than 200 schools, workshops, and seminars. Additionally,
she teaches for the Whidbey Island Writers Association MFA program.
Kirby enjoys sharing how she developed a passion for research
– which she fondly calls “detective work.” At
the same time, she teaches valuable skills for writing and storytelling.
Kirby has always had a passion for books – her best friends
growing up. In fact, her teachers often complained that she spent
too much time reading and not enough time on homework. But Kirby
never imagined becoming a writer. That is, until she had children
and read them Arnold Lobel’s Ming Lo Moves the Mountain.
“When I turned the last page, a switch went off inside me,”
she said. “I wanted to learn how to write stories that would
touch others the way this book had touched me.” Kirby lives
in Kenmore, Washington with her husband, Neil. When she’s
not reading, writing, or teaching, Kirby enjoys gardening, bird
watching, traveling, or drinking lattes with friends. http://kirbylarson.com/
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Deb Lund
 Deb Lund is the author of Dinosailors, All Aboard the Dinotrain, Tell Me My Story, Mama and other books for children. She has extensive experience teaching writing to students, teachers, and writers. Deb frequently presents at writers' conferences, including SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) conferences and retreats. She's passionate about helping others reach their goals. Visit Deb at www.deblund.com.
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Mary Nethery
 Author Mary Nethery is a California girl, born and raised. Her parents are first generation Americans. She has always loved to write. In the second grade, she began her first novel complete with illustrations, and hasn't stopped writing. Her books include Hannah and Jack, Mary Veronica's Egg and Orange Cat Goes to the Market. Her work is published in Spider and Ladybug magazines, as well as in Short Short Stories for Reading Aloud. She can also be found in the anthology, Writers in the Kitchen. Two new titles include The Two Bobbies: A Tale of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival, co-authored with Kirby Larson, to come out in August 2008, from Walker and Company; and The Famous Nini: The Mostly True Story Of A Plain White Cat Who Became A Star! to be published by Clarion Books. As an author, Mary has presented at state and national conferences, including the California Reading Association and the International Reading Association. Mary has a degree in music, with minors in art and English literature. She also has a master’s degree in curriculum design; has taught; and has coordinated professional development, kindergarten – secondary. Mary lives in California and is married with one son. She has traveled extensively and has a passion for desserts, adventure, animals, fashion, laughter, kindness, and spunky characters themes – often found in her books. http://www.marynethery.com/
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Ann Whitford Paul
 It was not until Ann Whitford Paul was thirty-five years old that she began to think about writing books. The inspiration came from her children. Life was chaotic in her crowded house - someone always needed a diaper changed, or a drink of apple juice, or a tear to be dried - except for that time when darkness wrapped around the house. Then Paul would sit with each child in a rocking chair, or in bed under the covers and read a book. She loved the peace and closeness of those bedtime readings so much, she decided she would write books that other parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, could share with the children special to them. Paul's books have won numerous awards including NY Times Notable books, Carl Sandburg Award for Children’s Literature, Bank Street College Best Books list, Notable Science and Social Studies Books, National Parenting Centers “Seal of Approval,” 2001 Recognition of Merit from the George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books of the Claremont Graduate University and have been nominated for numerous state reading awards. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Sociology and then attended Columbia University School of Social Work where I received an MSW. http://www.annwhitfordpaul.net/
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| Joni Sensel
Joni Sensel learned to read from Dr. Seuss and began writing her own stories soon thereafter. A full-time freelance writer, she is the author of three books for children and a nonfiction title for adults. Her first children’s picture book, Bears Barge In, received a 2001 Henry Bergh Honor from the ASPCA. Her first children’s novel, a wacky mystery called Reality Leak, was published by Henry Holt in April 2007. Joni’s forthcoming children’s books include an historical fantasy, The Humming of Numbers, that will be released by Holt in spring 2008, and a post-apocalyptic fantasy, Farwalker, coming from Bloomsbury USA in winter 2008/2009. Joni currently lives with a variety of other kooks and critters in Greenwater, WA. Learn more at http://www.jonisensel.com. |
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