James Sage is an American author who has channeled his experience with film and photography into creating picture books. He strongly believes that the successful blending of words with images is the element that gives a story its special magic, as it is often what lies beyond both that has the most lasting impact. A story, he insists, should raise questions that are not at first apparent. They should be the cause of thought and wonder, and linger with the reader in a happy, troublesome way. Today, from a small market town in England, he continues to explore this phenomenon, carefully varying his style to suit the subject. For James, it is a continuing adventure.

Louise Bradford loves spending time in the woods, especially on snowshoes! A member of Batchewana First Nation, she is the author of two children’s picture books, Sage and the Snowshoe Express and Wade’s Wiggly Antlers, and her other stories have been produced by CBC Radio and CBC Television. As a speechwriter, she has written many speeches for the Government of Canada, usually about farming and the people who grow our food.|Louise is of Canadian and Anishinaabe descent. Her Anishinaabe name, Diindiisi Ikwe, means Blue Jay Woman: the blue jay’s call tells everyone something important is happening. She has two amazing sons who are all grown up, and she is a proud nanna.#Born and raised at Baawaating (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario), Louise now lives and writes in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.)

Deborah Kerbel was born in London, England, but moved to Canada before she was old enough to cultivate a posh accent or a love of marmalade. She grew up in Toronto, Ontario, with her parents, sister, brother and a beagle named Snoopy.#Deborah loved reading from a very young age. As a kid, her favorite authors were Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume and L. Frank Baum. She loved books so much, she decided to major in literature at the University of Western Ontario so she would have a good excuse to never put her book down at the dinner table. A few years later, she decided it was time to try writing a book of her own. It went pretty well. Although she’s had jobs selling music, restaurant hostessing and pajama modeling, writing books for kids is definitely her favorite thing to do.#Deborah is the author of four young-adult novels and two middle-grade novels, including Feathered. She’s also co-authored five books with her father (who’s also a writer).#Deborah’s novels have been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association’s YA Book Award and the Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award. She’s also the recipient of the City of Vaughan’s 2011 R.A.V.E. Award for her work with youth as a literary arts educator and mentor.#Deborah now lives in Thornhill, Ontario, with her husband, son and daughter. Her kids have inspired many of her book ideas. Like their mom, they also love to read. Sometimes they won’t put their books down when Deborah calls them to the dinner table. But she doesn’t mind. Much.#Facebook: authordeborahkerbel~Twitter: @DeborahKerbel

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Michel Chikwanine has experienced civil war, political upheaval and poverty, emerging as an individual wise beyond his years. Forced by these circumstances to leave his home country at the age of 11 as a refugee, Michel has since traveled to 35 African countries, witnessing firsthand the problems faced by the developing world, but also the beauty of the communities and people who live there. #Much of his childhood was ravaged by the death and decay of a war that claimed the lives of 5.8 million people — his father included — and forced him to be a child soldier. Michel now inspires people to believe in their ability to make a difference and leaves audiences with a new perspective on life, a sense of hope through social responsibility and a desire for change.#Today, Michel is an accomplished motivational speaker and the co-author of Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War. Michel addresses audiences across North America and has spoken to over 100 000 people. He has shared the stage with such distinguished speakers as Free The Children founders Craig and Marc Kielburger, Dr. Jane Goodall, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Canadian prime minister Paul Martin, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, former U.S. vice president Al Gore, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Nobel Peace Prize laureate Betty Williams, actress Mia Farrow and musician K’naan, just to name a few. He was also a speaker on Oprah’s “O Ambassadors Roots of Action” speaking tour, largely reaching students at resource-poor schools.#By sharing his personal story, Michel has captured the attention of national media, including CBC, CTV and major daily newspapers, as he inspires people to believe in their ability to create change.

Jessica Dee Humphreys writes books about things that matter to young people (and adults). Jessica grew up reading. She read her first book (Oscar Otter) when she was three years old. From then on, Jessica read all the time. She read all through school, she read all through university, she read while walking to work, she read in the bath. She read new books and classic books, funny books and sweet books, strange books and beautiful books. Jessica read her favorite books over and over again. She read all of the Anne of Green Gables books dozens of times (her most beloved is Anne of the Island). And then she started writing.#Jessica Dee Humphreys specializes in international humanitarian and children’s issues. Her work (as author as well as ghostwriter) has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Maclean’s, Canada’s History magazine, the National Post, and the Globe and Mail. She has a master’s degree in English literature from Queen’s University, and she began her career at the United Nations Development Fund for Women. The books she has written specifically for children are Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War and The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls Around the World.#Jessica lives with her family in a big city most of the time. But sometimes they live on a tiny island near the woods, where she rereads To Kill a Mockingbird every summer while lying in a hammock.