Words & Wonder: 2025 SCBWI HI Regional Conference

Dan Santat has published over 100 books for children. His most notable works include A First Time for Everything (A 2023 National Book Award winner), The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend (2015 Randolph Caldecott Medal winner), Are We There Yet? (#1 New York Times bestseller), and After the Fall (New York Times bestseller). His work is also featured in the bestselling series The Misfts by Lisa Yee, Detective Duck by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, and Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot Series. He recently spoke at the White House for the 2023 HallowRead event hosted by President Joe Biden and his wife, First Lady Dr Jill Biden. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and many, many pets.

Tiff Liao is Executive Editor at Random House Books for Young Readers. She's had the honor and joy of editing award-winning and bestselling authors including Tomi Adeyemi, Angeline Boulley, Dhonielle Clayton, Maurene Goo, Goldy Moldavsky, Tochi Onyebuchi, Margaret Owen, Jenn Reese, and "Queer Eye" star Karamo Brown. Previously, she was at indie publisher Zando, where she launched the young readers program, and at Macmillan. Born and raised in California, she now lives in Nyack, NY, with her family and puppy-cat.

Sally Kim is an associate agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She is looking to represent a wide range of children’s book authors, illustrators, and author-illustrators, and she is drawn to stories with a distinct voice, unexpected wit, aggressive pacing, and punchy and/or emotionally resonant endings. When it comes to illustration, Sally gravitates to versatile artists using traditional mediums and those with a unique take on color, texture, perspective, and unexpected details. Please send Sally fiction and non-fiction submissions in the following categories: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels. Across all categories, Sally is especially eager to see authentic explorations of underrepresented cultures, relationships, and identities.

Tammy Yee is a former pediatric nurse who, after exchanging her stethoscope for a paintbrush, has written and/or illustrated more than 40 children’s books. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring tide pools, sharing her love for science and nature, and appeasing her flatulent bulldog. In 2022 she was inducted into the Children’s Literature of Hawai’i (CLH) Hall of Fame. Her most recent books are Glass Wonders: The Story of Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka (Tumblehome, 2024), Mazie's Amazing Journey: author Leslie Ann Hayashi, Illustrated by Tammy Yee (ABA, 2024), and Brave Mrs. Sato by Lori Matsukawa, illustrated by Tammy Yee (Chin Music Press, 2023).