April 11, 2026, 2-4 p.m. (PT), Award-Winning Authors on Craft, Career, and Critique Groups & 3 Critique Giveaways & Submission Guidelines from Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary

Sara Pennypacker is the New York Times best-selling author of more than two dozen children’s books, including The Lions’ Run, Pax and Pax, Journey Home, the Clementine series; the Waylon series, Leeva at Last, Summer of the Gypsy Moths, Here in the Real World, Sparrow Girl, Pierre in Love, Meet the Dullards and The Amazing World of Stuart. She has also contributed four books to the venerable Flat Stanley series. Her books have won numerous awards, including a Golden Kite Award and a Christopher’s Medal, many children’s choice state awards, and have appeared on many ‘Best Books’ lists. She was a painter before becoming a writer, and has two absolutely fabulous children who are now grown. She grew up in Massachusetts and splits her time between Cape Cod and California. Often asked “why do you write for children?” she explains that first, books can make a profound difference to a young reader: they can either mirror his/her experience in a way that says, “Look, you’re already a member of the human tribe! Welcome!” or they can open up a whole different path “Look how wide and deep the world is! Go explore!” I like being a part of that. Second, because young readers are a better audience than adult readers. They care more about every detail, and that makes it more satisfying to do a good job. Finally, because of the connection triangle: With both adult and children’s books, authors really connect with their characters, and readers really connect with them, too. But authors are connected to young readers in a way they aren’t to adult readers and that’s lovely. I care a lot about how the world treats children, and it is an honor to be able to write their stories.

Sally J. Pla's stories are for young people, but also for everyone. They’ve been translated into many languages, amassed starred reviews, appeared on many ‘best book’ lists and state reading lists, and picked up a few awards—but the best thing they’ve done has been to connect her to wonderful readers and a warm, vibrant writing community. Her books are character-driven, with characters who think about the world somewhat differently. So far her books include the Dolly Gray Award winning The Someday Birds; Invisible Isabel; Stanley Will Probably Be Fine; Benji, the Bad Day, and Me; Ada and Zaz; and The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn, which won the 2024 ALA Schneider Family Award for its disability representation. Rowan & Gemma, a love story, is coming in 2026. Sally also runs A Novel Mind (anovelmind.com), a web resource on neurodiversity and mental health representation in children's lit. It's been called a "gold mine" of helpful information for teachers and librarians. Sally, who was diagnosed autistic as an adult, has English degrees from Colgate and Penn State, and has worked as a journalist and in public education. She’s had lots of different jobs and lived in lots of different places, but loves San Diego best. She is represented by the amazing Sara Crowe of Sara Crowe Literary Agency. Learn more at sallyjpla.com.

Pam Muñoz Ryan is an American author and the 2026 U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She is the author of ECHO, a Newbery Honor book and the recipient of the Kirkus Prize. She has written over forty books, including the novels ESPERANZA RISING, BECOMING NAOMI LEÓN, RIDING FREEDOM, PAINT THE WIND, THE DREAMER, ECHO, and Mañanaland. She is the author recipient of the National Education Association’s Civil and Human Rights Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for Multicultural Literature, and is twice the recipient of the Pura Belpré Medal and the Willa Cather Award. Her novel, Esperanza Rising, was commissioned as a play by the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre and has been performed in many venues around the U.S. including The Goodman in Chicago, and the Majestic Cutler Theater, in Boston. Other selected honors include the PEN USA Award, the Américas Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and the Orbis Pictus Award. She was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, (formerly Pam Bell) holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from San Diego State University and lives near San Diego with her family. Many of her stories reflect her half-Mexican heritage. Born Pamela Jeanne Banducci in Bakersfield, California, on December 25, 1951, her last name was changed before she attended school to match the name of her parents, Hope Bell and the man she considered her father, Donald Bell. As Pamela Bell, she attended McKinley Elementary, Longfellow Elementary, Washington Jr. High, Bakersfield High School, and Bakersfield Community College. She then attended San Diego State University where she received a bachelor’s degree. She married James Ryan in 1975. An early childhood teacher, she worked for the Escondido, California, school district for three years before starting her family. After her four children were born, she became the director of an early childhood program and went back to school to get her master’s degree in Post-secondary Education with the intention of teaching Children’s Literature in college. When she finished her graduate program, she became interested in writing, and at the encouragement of her agent, Kendra Marcus, included her family name , Muñoz, to her signature, to reflect her Mexican heritage.