Faculty

Barbara Lowell is an award winning author of nonfiction picture books, early readers, and school and library market books. She is a member of SCBWI, SCBWI Oklahoma/Arkansas, The Courage to Create, and the 12x12 Challenge. You can visit her at: https://www.barbaralowell.com/

Heather has always devoured any book--fiction or nonfiction--that told a good story and introduced a new world, but she especially loves the ones that make her want to be the heroine of her own life. Her work in Biochemistry inspired her imagination for creating worlds. Writing for enjoyment turned into an interest in improving craft. After three years at The Bent Agency and Entangled Publishing, editing professionally, and being Managing Director of Pitch Wars, Heather is now a Senior Literary Agent and Agent Mentor at Storm Literary Agency. For all writing, Heather enjoys unique characters formed from their own experiences in a unique world. The characters need to feel real with a distinct voice from the first line. Thematic elements and strong character arcs are a must. She loves commercial fiction that has a literary flair and inclusive books that bring us together as citizens of the world. You can find out more about her at her website, heathercashman.com, or by listening to her Way-Word Writers podcast at way-wordwriters.com or on all major platforms.

Miranda Paul is an award-winning author of more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books for children, and a literary agent for the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Several of her books have been named Junior Library Guild selections and her book Whose Hands Are These? was a 2017 ILA Teacher's Choice. Her 2019 book Nine Months, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Jason Chin released simultaneously in four languages and was named a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book for Nonfic;on. Miranda is a frequent presenter at schools and libraries around the world, and has presented at the Library of Congress Young Readers Center with environmental ac;vist Isatou Ceesay. She is an annual faculty member at the Highlights Founda;on and a cofounder of the mentorship program for the nonprofit organiza;on We Need Diverse Books. Learn more at www.mirandapaul.com.