Children's Book Authors
from the greater Rochester, NY area

Kathleen Blasi, Victor, NY
Web site: kmblasi.com
kathy@kmblasi.com
Book title: A Name of Honor

Kathy Blasi’s first two children’s books were released in August 2006 (Mondo Publishing). An immigration story with a twist, A Name of Honor offers vivid historical detail, ideal for both the classroom and for snuggling up in your favorite reading spot. Are Organized Sports Better for Kids Than Pickup Play? is full of facts and anecdotal stories, and provides teachers with a great persuasive writing model for students.

Roxane Chadwick, Fairport, NY
Web site: ChildrensBookGuild.org/Chadwick.htm and RoxaneChadwick.com (coming soon)
Book titles: Felt Board Story Times, Once Upon a Felt Board, Don't Shoot, Amelia Earhart: Aviation Pioneer. Biography. Grades 4-6, Anne Morrow Lindbergh: Pilot and Poet

Ms. Chadwick writes for very young children through middle school children and for the teachers and librarian who help them enjoy stories. She is a storyteller and former children's librarian and does workshops and presentations to both teacher/librarian groups and children. The American Society for the Advancement of Science listed both of her biographies on their bibliography, "Best Science Books for Children."

McNevin Hayes, Pittsford, NY
Web site: mcnevinhayes@earthlink.net
Book title: Stone Pizza (as illustrator); written by Susan K. Mitchell

McNevin writes and illustrates children’s books. His artwork has appeared in galleries, books, magazines, CD liner notes and in murals. (He has also been a line cook, vacuum cleaner salesman, professional seashell washer, stagehand, special effects animator, scenic painter, and bookstore manager!) He has taught art to all ages in the Creative Workshop program at the Memorial Gallery of Art here in Rochester, and to a few lucky private students as well. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including from the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. “Stone Pizza” was the Finalist for a Praxis Award for Best Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year.

Marsha Hayles, Pittsford, NY
Web site: MarshaHayles.com
Book titles: Pajamas Anytime, He Saves the Day, The Feathered Crown, Pet of a Pet, Beach Play

Marsha Hayles loves playing with words, which is why she enjoys writing poetry and stories, especially for young people. Her most recent rhyming picture book, Pajamas Anytime, is a lullaby tribute to the joys of wearing pajamas every month of the year. Hayles, a former English teacher, also writes poetry for children’s magazines and is a frequent guest author at schools in the area. She is currently working on a novel for young readers. To learn more about Marsha Hayles and to explore a lively mix of writing, coloring and teaching activities for her books, visit her website at MarshaHayles.com.

Will Hubbell, Rochester, NY
Web site: Frontiernet.net/~winajuca/
Book titles: Pumpkin Jack, Apples Here!, Snow Day Dance, Cretaceous Sea, Sea of Time

Will writes and illustrates books designed to appeal to both very young children and elementary school students. They reflect his interest in the web of life and the changing seasons. His detailed illustrations give the child opportunities to visually explore the topics of his books. Will also writes science fiction novels for adults and older teenagers. These include Cretaceous Sea and Sea of Time. Both books deal with time travel.

Sheila Jarkins, Farmington, NY
Blog site: sjarkins.blogspot.com
Book title: Marco Flamingo (available in English text, Spanish text (Marco Flamenco) and bilingual

After a career in art education, Sheila now devotes her time to writing and illustrating picture books. She enjoys the creative challenge of integrating word and picture. Her past experiences as a dancer and musical theater performer/choreographer relate to her love of gesture and movement in illustration. The natural world has also influenced her work. She'd rather spend a day in the woods than in a mall. Children and animals are a continuous source of inspiration. Just spend an hour watching and listening to a three year old eating lunch with a playmate or a turtle exploring a new environment and ideas for stories almost write themselves! Visit her blog site for upcoming events.

Carol Johmann, Webster, NY
Web site: DrBuzzActivityArcade.com
Book titles: Bridges!, Skyscrapers!, The Lewis & Clark Expedition, Going West, and others

Armed with a Ph.D. in Biology from the U of R, Carol Johmann has worked as a research biologist, science reporter for Time and Discover, and manager in the international R&D division of a pharmaceutical company. She now spends her time writing activity-based, non-fiction books for kids ages 8 to 13, serving as president of RACWI (Rochester Area Children's Writers & Illustrators), and organizing the Rochester Children’s Book Festival. Carol is available for author visits and hands-on programs at area schools, libraries, and museums.

Mary Beth Miller, Coudersport, PA
Web site: MaryBethMiller.net
Book titles: Aimee, On the Head of a Pin

A former medical and nursing editor, Mary Beth Miller writes contemporary teen novels. Her first novel, Aimee, is about a girl recovering from the loss of her best friend to suicide. It has connected with teens from as far away as Singapore. Her second novel, On the Head of a Pin, will be out in March from Dutton. She loves working with "closet" writers, especially teenagers, and she has designed many workshops to help teens express themselves through writing.

Charles Noland, Rochester, NY
Web site: DrewandEllie.com
Book series: The Adventures of Drew and Ellie
Book titles: The Magical Dress; The Daring Rescue; The Missing Medal. Saving Christmas, and The Spooky Lighthouse.

Charles Noland is a business professional as well as an accomplished speaker, engaging storyteller, and avid reader. His series The Adventures of Drew and Ellie is a dramatic portrayal of good values and the importance of sound thinking for early elementary-age children. The Magical Dress is about cooperation, creative problem-solving, and caring for each other. The Daring Rescue continues the emphasis on working together. The Missing Medal teaches about honesty, integrity and trust. Saving Christmas is about selfless giving and bravery.

Linda Sue Park, Greece, NY
Web site: LindaSuePark.com
Book titles: A Single Shard, Keeping Score, Archer's Quest, When My Name Was Keoko, Project Mulberry, Tap Dancing on the Roof, The Kite Fighters,, Seasaw Girl, Click, Mung-Mung, The Fire Keeper's Son, Bee-bim Bop, Yum! Yuck!, What Does Bunny See?

Linda Sue Park is the author of A Single Shard, which was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal by the American Library Association in 2002, for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. She has written both picture books and novels for young people, including the Jane Addams Peace Prize honor book, When My Name Was Keoko, and the Chicago Tribune Young Adult Literature award title, Project Mulberry. Her most recent books are Tap Dancing on the Roof, a collection of poetry, and Keeping Score, a baseball story set during the time of the Korean War. The daughter of immigrant parents, Ms. Park draws on her Korean ancestry for much of her work. A childhood love of the public library has led her to consider herself a reader first and a writer second. She lives with her family in western New York. Learn more about Linda Sue and her books at her website, www.lindasuepark.com, and on her blog, lsparkreader.livejournal.com.

Grant Philips, Greece, NY
Web site: GrantRPhilips.tripod.com/
Book titles: Jay Walker: The Case of The Missing Action Figure

Grant R. Philips is the author of Jay Walker: The Case of The Missing Action Figure (April 2004). Soon to be released (September 2005) is the second in the series, Jay Walker: The Case of the Impractical Prankster. Philips lives in Greece, New York with his wife and three children, and is currently at work on his next middle-grade novel.

Robin Pulver, Pittsford, NY
Web site: RobinPulver.com
Book titles: Author Day for Room 3T, Axle Annie, Mrs. Toggle's Zipper, Punctuation Takes a Vacation, Christmas for a Kitten, and others

Robin Pulver writes picture books for kids ages 3-9. She frequently visits schools in the area to talk about reading, writing and being an author.

Stu Smith, Pittsford, NY
Web site: StuSmith.com
Book titles: My School's a Zoo!, Goldilocks and the Three Martians, Dinosaur Hide and Seek, The Bubble Gum Kid

Stu Smith is an elementary teacher in Rochester, NY. His latest book, The Bubble Gum Kid (illustrated by Julia Woolf), is sure to be a hit with "bubble blowers" everywhere. Stu's other books include My School's a Zoo! illustrated by David Catrow, Goldilocks and the Three Martians illustrated by Michael Garland, and Dinosaur Hide and Seek, illustrated by Christopher Santoro. He has two more books due out soon. Here is a link to an interview KOA did with Stu in August, 2006.

Joseph "Silly" Sottile, Gates, NY
Web site: www.joe-sottile.com
Book title: Picture Poetry on Parade!

Joe loves to perform poetry and do writing workshops. He believes the more we read and write poetry, the better students and people we become. Joe frequently appears in schools and libraries throughout upstate New York. To read some of his interesting articles about teaching, reading, and poetry, click here. His blog for grown-ups is at http://poetryplus.booklocker.com

Peggy Thomas, Middleport, NY
Web site: Peggythomas.smartwriters.com
Book titles: Joshua the Giant Frog, Forensic Anthropology, The Science of Saving Animals, a conservation series.

Peggy loves writing nonfiction for children and young adults, and enjoys searching out true stories to tell. But her newest book is a picture book retelling of an old tall tale told along the banks of the Erie Canal in the 1800s. It's a fun read-aloud story for young children, as well as the perfect compliment to the fourth grade Social Studies curriculum.

Vivian Vande Velde, Greece, NY
Web site: VivianVandeVelde.com
Book titles: All Hallows Eve, A Hidden Magic, Smart Dog, Never Trust a Dead Man, Now You See It...and many more

Vivian Vande Velde is the author of more than two dozen books, primarily for middle grade students and teens, mostly science fiction and fantasy. Although many of her books are set long ago and far away, others are set in the Rochester area. Her latest book is All Hallows Eve, a collection of Halloween stories for teens--and some of those locales will sound familiar to local teens.

Aureen Wagner, Rochester, NY
Web site: Lighthouse-Press.com
Book titles: Up and Down the Worry Hill, Worried No More: Help and Hope for Anxious Children, What to do when your Child has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Strategies and Solutions, Treatment of OCD in Children and Adolescents: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Manual, Treatment of OCD in Children and Adolescents: Professional's Kit, OCD and Anxiety at School

Aureen Wagner is a clinical child psychologist and anxiety expert. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Rochester and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation. Aureen’s award-winning book Up and Down the Worry Hill helps children and their parents understand OCD, a baffling and confusing illness. She has received international recognition for her metaphor of the Worry Hill, which describes treatment of OCD in child-friendly language, and brings hope and optimism for recovery.

Susan Williams / Susan Williams Beckhorn, Rexville, NY
Web site: susanwilliamsbeckhorn.com
Book titles: Wind Rider, Sarey by Lantern Light, The Kingfisher’s Gift, In the Morning of the World, Six Woodland Why Stories

Susan Williams Beckhorn believes we need more books that connect children with the earth. She grew up in a family where kids, animals, and the outdoors were important. As an author-illustrator with a master’s degree in English Education, she loves to visit schools with her little red Writer’s Toolbox full of odd and amusing tools, or get them writing their own animal myths. She is very excited about her newest book, Wind Rider, (YA) which takes place 6000 years ago in Asia, saying, “It’s a horse story that all kids can relate to because we all have roots in pre-history.”
Link to Q&A on Harper Collins Website