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Michael Fry
Michael is a cartoonist (creator ofOver The Hedge, a beloved comic strip and DreamWorks movie) as well as an author and entrepreneur. Fry new series Odd Squad is written for children in the 8 plus range. He lives near Austin, Texas with his wife, dog, and several shrub-eating cows. Odd Squad is Fry’s latest series |
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Christine Heppermann
Christine currently lives in New York; graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, hold a Master’s Degree in children’s literature from Simmons College as well as a MFA in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University. She is also a reviewer of young adult books for the Chicago Tribune. Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty is written for young readers. Her poems are where fairy tales and reality intersect. According to Heppermann, “when you think of the apple the wicked queen offers Snow White, it looks wholesome and nutrition but it is actually deadly. The same can be said of the cultural messages directed at women and girls.” E. Lockhart has called Poison Apples: Poems for you My Pretty a bloody poetic attack on the beauty myth that’s caustic, funny and heartbreaking.” “A slim volume sharp as knives….Full of razors that cut- and razors to cut off shackles: a must.” Kirkus Review |
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Martha Louise Hunter
Martha lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and blended family. She graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in English. Hunter has worked in politics, writing magazine feature stories as well as having homebuilding and interior decorating companies. Painting Juliana is in part taken from Hunter’s life but the heroine, Juliana, is not Hunter’s life. She paints a moving story about family relationships, divorce, Alzheimer and living. “Martha Louise Hunter is a witty and perceptive war correspondent whose novelistic dispatch from today’s often-perilous domestic front is engaging and funny, heart-rendering and profound. Painting Juliana is superb” Joe Holley, columnist, Houston Chronicle |
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Jeffery Stuart Kerr
Dr. Kerr at the time he entered Rice University in 1975, dream was to be a writer and historian but reality set in and he became a MD, graduating from Texas A&M in 1984. After establishing a medical practice in Austin, he discovered the Austin History Center and he began writing. He and his wife continue to live in Austin. Seat of the Empire: The Embattled Birth of Austin, Texas is his third non-fiction book. The establishing of Austin represents an early political battle for the new Republic of Texas pitting Mirabeau B. Lamar against Sam Houston. Kerr has written a well -researched and readable book about the establishing of Austin, Texas. “Kerr provides illuminating contexts for the passionately contested and inevitable politicized question of location and sketches adroitly, the picturesque (and often picaresque) pistol-packing politicos caught up in the jousts” Harold Hyman, William P. Hobby Professor of History Emeritus, Rice University |
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Susie Kralovansky
Susie, a former librarian, is known as the “Library Lady”. She began writing at an early age knowing that was what she wanted to be. Kralovansky is a member of Society of Children’s Book Writer and Illustrators and the Texas Library Association. While she has written six nonfiction as well as articles for popular children’s magazine There Was a Tall Texas Who Swallowed a Fleais her first fiction. Through the use of a classic story about the flea she is able to find a Tall Texas who is annoyed with a flea. In the process of getting rid of the flea Kralovansky has created a wonderful children’s story delighting children through the State of Texas and everywhere else From the Inside flap: “Susie Kralovansky has created an enjoyable, kid-friendly book that mixes humor and Texas symbols. Children of all ages will love this story. As a teacher I can already think of lessons” Sunny Bonnecarrere, elementary Gifted and Talented students |
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Phillip McBride
Phillip is a retired teacher and high school principal and is an avid consumer of military historical fiction. He lives with his wife Juanita in Lockhart, Texas. For decades, McBride has been a contributing writer toCamp Chase Gazette, writing dozens of articles about Civil War soldiers and the hobby of Civil War reenactments. Tangled Honor is a well-crafted historical fiction that combines McBride’s love of Civil War history with a riveting story of Captain McBee and his attraction to a beautiful woman. The story begins with the Texas Revolution and the Battle of Plum Creek then blends into the Civil War battle at Gettysburg. “There are more than enough accurate…depicted battle scenes inTangled Honor to satisfy the Civil War Buff, but it also a compelling family story… No reader who enjoys realistic battle scenes with be disappointed in the historical fiction. No reader who enjoys historical fiction form the Civil War era will be able to put this book down.” Gretchen Rix, Author |
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Antonio Ruiz-Camacho
Antonio, the author of Barefoot Dogs, a native of Toluca Mexico, now lives in Austin, Texas. A 2009 John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University and 2014 Dobie Paisano Fellow in fiction. As a journalist he wrote about social issues in Mexico. Ruiz-Camacho short storyOrigami Prunes was featured inTexas Monthly. Barefoot Dogs is Ruiz-Camacho first work of fiction, a collection of short stories about an affluent family from Mexico City beginning with the kidnapped patriarch evolving into stories of family members who left Mexico as a result of the violence within the country. The stories that follow chronicle various members living in exile in San Diego San Antonio, Houston, and Austin. “Lean and beautifully rendered…profound and wrenching…affecting…a deeply moving chronicle of one family’s collective devastation… full of remarkable wisdom and humor yet unflinching in it portrayal of the horrors sweeping contemporary Mexico. Patricia Engel, The New York Times Book Review “Author’s first offering looks at serious issues in entertaining fashion” Charles Ealy, Austin American Statesman |
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Paul N. Spellman, PhD.
Dr. Spellman is a Professor of Texas History at Wharton Junior College in Richman, Texas. He has written a number of books on various parts of Texas history from Spindletop to several books about Texas Rangers. He and his wife live in Richman, Texas. Old 300: Gone to Texas is an epic tale of the original Moses Austin’s dream to bring 300 Americans to the untamed regions of Tejas. After Moses Austin’s death his son Stephen F. Austin took up the dream and between 1819 and 1824, the Old Three Hundred came to Tejas to populate the land. In reality there were 297 family units in this migration. There was diversity within the family groups involved. Included in this population were land speculators, merchants, fugitives, and the list goes on including several who never came but are on the list. Spellman makes the stories of the Old 300 colonist and their mark on Texas a valuable resource for all. “A must have for Texas history buffs. Paul Spellman is an excellent writer and knowledgeable scholar on all things Texas in the Revolutionary period.” Reader Review |
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Terry Thompson-Anderson
Terry is one of Texas’ best cookbook authors having written seven best selling cookbooks including Texas on the Plate. When first married she did not know how to cook her and was saved by her mother-in-law who was a fine cook. As a result she was determined to learn cooking and after taking every cooking course she could find eventually going to culinary school. She writes for the magazine Edible Austin. She teaches students at cooking schools all over the country. Texas on the Table is a collection of 150 recipes along with stories of the people of Texas ranging from home cooks to well- known Texas chefs who have inspired and are changing the taste of Texas food. The beautiful photos by Sandy Wilson add to the celebration ofPeople, Places and Recipes Celebrating the Flavors of the Lone Star State. “From farm-fresh vegetables and dairy products to wine, Terry Thompson-Anderson’s Texas on the Table is a complete guide to everything that the Texas terrain produces.” John Besh |
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David Marion Wilkinson
David is an award winning authors and screenwriter. Not Between Brothers received and “Editor’s Choice” from the Review of Texas Books; the Violet Crown Award. He worked on the adaption of his book for a mini-series, which won an Emmy. He was born in Arkansas but has lived in Texas since 1972, currently living in Austin. Wilkinson has a deep understanding of Texas history and his writings reflect his depth and breadth of knowledge. Where The Mountains Are Thieves follows the story of Jesse Reverchon; middle -aged author, and his family. The family moves from Houston, Texas to the Big Ben Valley on West Texas where he is intent on repairing a marriage and become closer with his son. Through his journey to reconnect with his family and restart his writing career he has ups and downs with heartwarming moments, humor, and a retrench to self-destructive habits. “Atmospheric and absorbing…the climax packs a wallop and the emotional aftermath rings surprisingly true… A satisfying illuminating read.” Publishers Weekly |
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