December 19, 2026, 2-4 p.m. (PT), *Lessons Learned on the Path to Publication

TBA

Ron Lenert is a trial lawyer by training. After graduating from NYU School of Law, he became a Navy JAG and was stationed several places around the US and served one deployment. Since leaving active duty he has been litigating cases on behalf of the County of San Diego. His artistic background has been purely as a hobby, with an early foundation in graphic novels. He and his wife have raised two children, who are now both in college, and currently live in Coronado. Roberta Lenert has a master’s degree in education and has been an educator for over 20 years; she has taught children in grades 2-5 in five different school districts (the consequence of a military family). Becoming a published author has been a dream since the first time she read to a group of kindergarten students. She is currently the Director of the Coronado Unified School District Robotics Program, overseeing students in middle school through high school. In college she played volleyball at University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was a 3x All American and inducted into the UCSB Hall of Fame. She and her husband have raised two children, who are now both in college, and they currently live in Coronado. THE CHEESE TAX - Inspired by the internet song, “The Cheese Tax” is a hilarious telling of a modern-day parable known in all dog-owning families; dogs love cheese and will insist on a portion whenever it is opened. Told in clever rhyming verse from a determined pup’s perspective, this story takes readers from her instant awakening, through her sensory hunt and unrelenting pleas, to a joyful finale with a final laugh. With every colorful page loaded with humor, this authentic story will resonate with pet owners and children and is sure to result in repeated readings and lasting family routines. humor, this authentic story will resonate with pet owners and children and is sure to result in repeated readings and lasting family routines.

Melissa Miles is a pediatric nurse and certified K-12 educator in Savannah, GA. She's currently serving as Co-Regional Advisor for the Southern Breeze region of SCBWI. Her work has been published in The School Magazine and in anthologies from Vine Leaves Press. CAUGHT ON CAMERA - After a summer of non-stop news footage of Senator Jefferson Morgan's suspicious death just days before his testimony against the global crime ring Double Helix, Dominic does not expect to spot him in live webcam footage of NYT Square looking very ... alive! Desperate to prove he’s right, and to bring Senator Morgan to justice, Dominic creates a podcast to share his conclusions about Morgan’s identity. It goes viral in a way he never imagined. Can Dominic uncover the real story behind Senator Jefferson's fake death, evade underworld operatives, stay one step ahead of a (potentially!) untrustworthy rogue federal agent, handle new social ticks and anxieties brought on by his sudden fame AND navigate the pitfalls of middle social hierarchy . . . without losing sight of the things that make him, well, him?

Shuba Mohan enjoys experimenting with the boundaries of her writing and sharing space and voice with the varied stories and experiences of a multicultural world. She believes curiosity is essential, perfection doesn’t exist, kindness is paramount, and lifelong learning is the only way to say you’re living life to the fullest. Her poetry can be experienced in Brown Girl Magazine, Fairfield Scribes, Yellow Arrow Journal and a forthcoming poetry compilation. Her writings can be read in anthology pieces with Chimera Projects and Wild Ink, and soon, with her picture book debut Whisper in the Leaves: A Ganesh Chaturthi Story with Free Spirit Publishing, expected Summer 2027. GANESHA CREATION - The picture book follows a boy with sensory sensitivities who struggles to participate in his family's Ganesh Chaturthi traditions, until he discovers a touch-friendly way to honor the celebration while staying true to his needs.

Hannah Sanguinetti is a doll-maker and children's author/illustrator born in Sheffield, England and living in Trieste, Italy. After studying music at Cambridge university, Hannah worked as a nursery and primary school teacher before focusing on illustration and doll-making. Through a love of working with textiles, Hannah's unique and recognisable illustrations combine line drawing, paper and textile collage, knitted textures, 3D characters and hand embroidery. Hannah’s focus on textiles and yarn adds warmth, cosiness and an exciting sense of depth to her images which suit not only children’s illustration but also a range of publishing, editorial and design projects. Hannah currently works freelance for publishers worldwide writing and illustrating picture books primarily for the 0-6 years age range, and has hosted multiple picture book events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Hannah’s clients include Speech Link Multimedia (UK), Kwasi Verlag (Switzerland), Fulmìno Edizione (Italy) and The Pilgrim Press (USA). Hannah is represented by Sorche Fairbank of Fairbank Literary Representation. SITTING AND KNITTING - Waiting in hospital for you mother to come out of surgery can feel worrying, upsetting, frightening, boring and endless; if only there was some way to remain calm and positive whilst the time passed. But Uncle John is here too and he has a bag of yarn and knitting needles with him. In ‘Sitting and Knitting’, a child sits waiting with their Uncle who teaches them how to finger knit, to breathe and to relax in a tense and difficult moment. A beautiful and gentle story showing a caring and supportive relationship and the joy and relaxation that knitting can bring, ‘Sitting and Knitting’ includes instructions for the reader to learn how to finger-knit with any wool they have at hand.