Colleen AF Venable is an author, designer, and maker. Her graphic novel series Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye (illustrated by Stephanie Yue) was nominated for an Eisner for Best Publication for Kids.

Her other books include Mervin the Sloth is About to Do the Best Thing in the World and Amy the Red Panda Writes the Best Story in the World, both illustrated by Ruth Chan.

Joe McGee earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and an MA in Writing from Rowan University. He teaches creative writing at Sierra Nevada College’s low-residency MFA program.

An avid cartoonist, board game player, and role-playing gamer, Joe is also the author of the Junior Monster Scouts chapter book series and three picture books: Peanut Butter & Brains, Peanut Butter & Aliens, and Peanut Butter & Santa Claus. He lives in a quiet little river town with his wife (also a children’s book author) and their puppy, Pepper. 

Marcie Colleen is the author of the chapter book series Super Happy Party Bears and the picture books Love, Triangle and The Adventure of the Penguinaut.

She’s a former classroom teacher and current educational consultant for the Picture Book Month initiative.

She also creates teacher’s guides for picture books and middle-grade novels and is a huge advocate for using children's fictional literature in the classroom.