2024-2025 Debut Children's Literature Authors and Illustrators Share Their Different Experiences.
Zohreh Ghahremani (Zoe) is an author, speaker, and painter whose work is heavily influenced by her experiences as a Middle Eastern immigrant and her background as a poet. Her first novel – SKY OF RED POPPIES was selected for KPBS’ One Book, One San Diego in 2011. Her sophomore novel, THE MOON DAUGHTER won the San Diego Book Awards as well as the Writer’s Digest Book Awards for Best Literary Fiction. She has also contributed to numerous anthologies. Zoe now writes for both adults and children. Her debut picture book, MEMORY GARDEN, illustrated by her daughter Susie, was published by Godwin Books/Macmillan in 2024, with another picture book about Norooz/Persian New Year to follow in 2026. She is working on numerous new books and paintings, living by her motto that “life is short, but the road is wide!”
K. Marcus is always surrounded by books. When she isn’t reading, writing or researching, you’ll find her outside hiking or gardening. She has 2 children and lives in the Historic Hudson Valley with her spouse, cats, Westley & Buttercup, and dog, Indie. Her debut picture book, Frankenstein's Matzah: A Passover Parody published in January 2024. Find more info on kmarcuswrites.com.
Nessa Bellido Schwarz is a Latina author who lives in Southern California with her husband, son, and a tortoise named Leonardo da Vinci. Nessa is a longtime member of the SCBWI, and her work has been published in Highlights magazine and other journals. She is the author and creator of the debut chapter books series, GEORGE THE FLYBOT. She was offered a four-book contract for a chapter book series through the Sunbird Kid Books imprint of PIP Kids. She negotiated the contract herself with the help of her lawyer hubby. She's written the first two books in the series: GEORGE THE FLYBOT AND THE LOST CAMERA ON MOUNT EVEREST and GEORGE THE FLYBOT AND THE GOLDEN OWL OF FRANCE. GEORGE'S illustrator is Jason Fruchter, a seasoned professional. He's illustrated books for Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, and Penguin Random House.
Stan is an award-winning, first generation American-born-Chinese, Denver-based writer, illustrator, caricature artist and instructor. He is currently the co-Regional Advisor for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (RMC-SCBWI), a professor at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and co-founder of the Cuddlefish Academy kidlit art school. His late middle-grade graphic novel, THE MANY MISFORTUNES OF EUGENIA WANG is being published by Atheneum (S&S), scheduled for Fall '25. His work was the grand prize recipient of the 2022 SCBWI-FL Conference Portfolio Excellence Award!