Meet Our Volunteers

Dean Gloster is a young adult and middle-grade writer who lives in Berkeley, California. His contemporary YA debut Dessert First is out from Simon Pulse. He has an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. His checkered past includes stand-up comedy, being a lawyer for decades, and being a law clerk for two U.S. Supreme Court Justices. His hobbies include downhill ski racing and Aikido. He is thrilled and honored to be a co-RA for the San Francisco North & East Bay Region effective January 1, 2021. deangloster.com

Maritza Ruiz-Kim is a Bay Area author-illustrator living in Contra Costa County in the SF Bay Area. She paints environments with traditional materials then creates characters digitally. Her projects include picture books, a young reader graphic novel, and a hybrid illustrated middle grade novel. Through 2020, she was a preschool art teacher. 🩵 She's also exhibited fine art in gallery shows across the US, and published comics in MUTHA Magazine. Your can find her art at her website (maritzaruizkim.com), Instagram & Bluesky (@marzkim_illustrated).

Natasha Yim has published twelve children’s books including her new releases Luna and the Case of the Missing Mooncakes (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2025), a follow up to Luna’s Yum Yum Dim Sum (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2020) in the Storytelling Math series, and her first board book, No School for Me! (Change is Hard) (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2025), part of the Chicken Soup for the Babies’ Soul series. Her most popular book Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2014), was a Junior Library Guild and Scholastic Book Club selection. Natasha has also released three books with Disney and Disney/Pixar: Mulan’s Lunar New Year, Like Mother, Like Daughter and the Little Golden Book Lightyear. She also enjoys delving into facts, research, and cultural diversity for nonfiction projects such as the picture book Lunar New Year (Words & Pictures, Quarto Books, 2023), and children's magazines, "Highlights for Children", "Appleseeds", "Faces", and "Muse". Natasha grew up in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong and loves to write about people and cultures from around the world.Natasha is represented by Ana Crespo, East West Literary Agency.

www.natashayim.com.

Will Wolfe has written and published over 75 works of fiction, spanning genres including science fiction, romance, suspense, thriller, and post apocalyptic. His body of work includes short stories, novellas, middle grade books, novels, and children's picture books. Under the pen name William Oday, he wrote numerous highly-regarded post-apocalyptic thrillers and other stories. He is now focused solely on his true calling - children's books. You can find out more about his children's books at www.bigmoonbooks.com where his mission is to bring warmth, wonder, and giggles to readers of all ages.

Brenda Buchanan is a writer and researcher residing in Oakland, California. Her day job allows her to talk to people from all over the world to better understand their behaviors and motivation, a curiosity directly related to her storytelling. She holds an MFA in Writing for Young People from the Vermont College of Fine Art. When she isn't writing she is a voraciously reading and discussing books as part a creative side project the EnTomed podcast.

Zu Gong is an illustrator and teacher from the Bay Area, California. Zu had an interest in picture book writing and illustrating since she was quite young. Her daily work includes reading to children and creating stories around their curiosity. Aside from her love of children’s literature, she also enjoys reading detective fiction, ice skating, and petting her friend's cats!   More of her work: www.PenguinsandPlants.com

Carl Walker said, "I want to be an artist!” when he was asked at five years old what he wanted to be when he grew up. He might have only been copying his older sister at the time, but life has a funny way with coincidences! Carl is a children’s book illustrator and writer in Lake County, California, with a passion for traditional art mediums. Working primarily with watercolor and ink, he works to capture the wonderful and crazy energy that children possess and adults have forgotten. Carl’s biggest influences come from his two children (who keep him on his toes), plein air painting through the Napa Valley, and his love of fantasy creatures. His other interests include (but are not limited to): hand sewing, cooking, and whatever his ADHD is hyper-fixated on at the moment.

Nanette Heffernan spends her days writing middle-grade eco-adventure stories, blogging (crunchywisdom.com), homesteading, and volunteering. She draws on her education as an MBA, certified Master Gardener, and Sustainability Consultant, to grow over half her family’s food, run the District Green Team for her local school district, and sit as VP on the board of Sustainable Lafayette. She is pleased to share her efforts have earned her three Environmental Awards of Excellence. Nanette lives in Northern California with her husband, three children, eight chickens, and cast of characters from her books who she chatters with daily. nanetteheffernan.com

Carrie Salazar is a visual storyteller and driven to tell her own story, or other people’s stories, through art. She gets her inspiration from dreams, history, people, events, and her mischievous childhood in the South. The daughter of immigrants and born in the New Orleans, Carrie now lives and works in Berkeley, CA. carriesalazar.com

California author Teresa Joan Hendrix spent more than a decade as an award-winning newspaper reporter (in the glory days before the Internet) and then another 15 years in university public relations and web and social media design and content creation. She has two grown daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law, two granddaughters, and three granddogs. She lives in Sonoma County wine country with her husband and Maggie the rescue Beagle Jack. She studied journalism at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo under the legendary Professor Jim Hayes. Her debut MG novel, "The Pack: The Dare and The Draugar" earned a Gold Seal for Excellence from the Moms Choice Awards. She's currently working on the second book in her "Pack" series, "The Crow and The Curse." It's tentatively set for release in May 2025.

tjhendrix.com

Raised by a Pakistani father and American mother in the small town of Half Moon Bay, California, L. Michelle Quraishi grew up searching for identity, belonging, and connection in books. Her experiences with straddling multiple cultures drive her commitment to exploring cultural edges and understanding. An SCBWI member since 2013, she’s written numerous picture books and is currently working on a middle-grade novel in verse. She now lives with her husband, two children and mother in Walnut Creek, California Learn more at www.lmquraishi.com.

Natasha Tripplett, a Jewish-Jamaican American author, lives in Northern California where she writes from a treehouse perched in a sycamore tree. As a baby, Natasha was adopted into a Dutch, Christian family. Growing up on Vancouver Island in Canada, Natasha was acutely aware that she was different from her family; this did not keep her from integrating all the pieces of her identity. Natasha’s multicultural background has allowed her to flow seamlessly through different cultures while bridging gaps that typically divide people. Natasha has been published in various online magazines. Natasha is represented by Caryn Wiseman of Andrea Brown Literary Agency and has forthcoming picture books with HarperCollins, Chronicle and WaterBrook. Natasha bubbles with excitement over antiques, chocolate, coffee on the front porch, and cozy movie nights in front of the fireplace with her husband and four children.

Nadine Takvorian is a first-generation Armenian-American author and illustrator of children’s books and graphic novels. From within the Armenian diaspora, Nadine’s family is *Bolsahye* — from Istanbul, Turkey. She is passionate about exploring identity and history, and battling cultural erasure. She also nourishes a soft spot for fantasy and alternate worlds. Nadine lives with her husband and two children in the Bay Area where they dig holes in their garden and dream of diving into waves at sea. Nadine is currently working on her debut YA graphic novel ARMAVENI with Levine Querido, Spring 2025. 

Traci Huahn writes both fiction and nonfiction stories, many rooted in Asian American culture, history, and identity. Her debut picture book Mamie Tape Fights to go to School will be published by Crown BFYR in 2024. Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, Traci is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Though she loves traveling far and near, most days you'll find her writing at home alongside her husband, two kids, a pup who loves raw Brussels sprouts, and a Betta fish named Walter. Traci is a co-coordinator of the SCBWI SF North/East Bay diversity initiative Tapestry of Voices. www.tracihuahn.com

Meera Sriram grew up in India and moved to the U.S in 1999. An electrical engineer in the past, she now enjoys writing for children, leading early literacy initiatives, and advocating for diverse bookshelves. Meera is the author of #OwnVoices picture books The Yellow Suitcase and A Gift For Amma. She has also co-authored several kids’ books in India. Meera believes in the transformative power of stories and likes to write on people, places, and experiences less visible in children’s literature. Find out more at meerasriram.com.

Vanitha Sankaran is both a medical communications director working in rare diseases and a novelist. Her debut novel, Watermark, was a work of adult historical fiction; she has since written a YA contemporary fantasy and is working on a YA cross between science fiction and the history of slavery. She was a co-founding editor of the literary journal flashquake for its 10-year run and has served multiple times as the Conference and Program Chair for the Historical Novel Society of North America’s Biannual Conference. She currently lives with her husband and greyhounds in Moss Beach, California. Learn more at www.vanithasankaran.com/

April Gavin is an emerging illustrator and writer. Her work focuses on inter-species relationships, human foibles, and the vitality of the natural world. She is currently working on her first book. She lives in Berkeley, CA with her partner Tom and a large golden dog named Scout. www.aprilgavin.net

Monica Wesolowska is an author and educator for both children and adults. Most recently, her children's picture book Elbert in the Air (Dial; illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey) was named a "Best Book of the Year" by Bank Street and was praised by The New York Times as being “effervescent…whimsical and relatable.” Her debut picture book Leo + Lea (Scholastic; illustrated by Kenard Pak) won an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award. Both her books open up discussions about difference and connection, friendship and the larger world. Monica loves presenting to both large and small school groups, either in person or virtually. She’s also available to speak at conferences about writing and teaching. monicawesolowska.com

Genevieve “Gennie” Gorback has a Masters of Education in Teaching from UC Santa Barbara. When she is not writing/revising/critiquing picture book manuscripts, she is an early literacy curriculum writer/app developer, a toy designer, and the President of the California Kindergarten Association (2021-2023). She lives in the East Bay with her husband and two young daughters. Gennie is not-yet-published and is currently querying agents. Twitter: @kindlingeducat1 IG: @myfavoritebooksforkids Website: www.kindling-education.com 

Cat Fan is an author, advocate, and trailblazer. Growing up in a rough neighborhood in Stockton, CA, within an ethnic enclave of refugees, Cat faced violence and poverty. Her journey took a transformative turn when her parents, seeking a better life, moved the family to an agricultural town. As one of the few Asian families in a predominantly Caucasian community, Cat learned to adapt, advocate for herself, and embrace her neurodivergent identity.As the first person in her family to attend college, Cat understands the challenges of navigating higher education without a roadmap. Her personal experiences as a neurodivergent individual shaped her perspective and fueled her drive to make a positive impact. Cat is dedicated to serving underserved communities and children who have faced loss and trauma, providing them with support, representation, and a voice.Through her writing, Cat weaves together narratives of resilience, diversity, and empowerment. Her work resonates with those who have felt lost, offering healing and guidance. As a proud advocate for neurodiversity and a champion of education, Cat is breaking barriers, inspiring others to embrace their unique identities, and paving the way for a more inclusive and compassionate world.

www.mikasquest.com

Darcey Rosenblatt writes for middle grade and teenage people because she believes for them stories can be life changing – they were for her. Her debut novel Lost Boys (Henry Holt for Young Readers) was released in August 2017. Darcey is a cofounder of the annual Better Books Workshop for middle grade and young adult writers. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her fabulous husband and daughter, some fish, and the best dog in the world. Visit her website at darceyr.com.

Tenisha Bernal is a children's book author / illustrator and a former elementary school art docent who taught herself how to draw by recreating some of her favorite comic strips from the Sunday paper. Tenisha describes her art as a simple yet fun style for children of any age. Tenisha has a series of first 100 word board books published by Random House, which include:

- LITTLE CHEF'S FIRST 100 WORDS

- LITTLE GARDENER'S FIRST 100 WORDS

- LITTLE ARTIST'S FIRST 100 WORDS

Tenisha is represented by Jen Newens at Martin Literary Management. You can follow along on Tenisha’s journey by following her at:

Instagram: TBernal.Books

Facebook: Tenisha Bernal Author

tenishabernal.com

Pamela Herron is a poet, writer, educator, and gardener living in the North Bay Area of California. She is interested in issues of sustainability and diversity. She teaches and writes about China, Chinese culture, and Confucianism and Daoism and their relevance to today’s culture. Follow Pamela’s blog at Books for Children and Young People; find her books for adults on her Amazon page.

Donna Lambo-Weidner has sailed the seven seas with swashbuckling pirates, crossed blades with sword-wielding knights, and circumnavigated the moon in a cardboard box, until it was bedtime, at least. Now that she’s an adult, Donna writes books for children about those adventures laced with her actual experiences—like dog-sledding in the arctic or spending the night in a salt cave deep below the earth’s surface. Her debut picture book, THERE ARE NO DRAGONS IN THIS BOOK, is scheduled for publication in Spring 2024 by NorthSouth Books. This SCBWI former regional advisor for Germany and Austria lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, a list of lands yet to be explored, and a treasure chest stuffed with story ideas. Visit her at donnaweidner.com.

Karen Gebbia is a picture book author and naturalist represented by Amy Thrall Flynn, Aevitas Creative Management. She has two books under contract with Penguin Random House, and one with Magination Press. She is an active member of SCBWI (serving as Sonoma County Co-coordinator for the SFNEBay Region), Storyteller Academy, 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, StoryStorm, and other writing communities, and a graduate of the Children’s Book Academy and Susanna Leonard Hill's Making Picture Book Magic. Before writing for children, Karen wrote, edited, published, and taught scholarly writing for two decades.

www.karengebbia.com

For twenty years, Jennifer Liss has worked in educational publishing and has written dozens of books for struggling and reluctant readers, including Doubles, which received a School Library Journal starred review. Her middle grade contemporary novel WIDE EYE was acquired by Sarah Odedina at Pushkin Press and will be published in April 2026. She was a recipient of the merit-based Highlights Foundation Lee Bennett Hopkins Scholarship for poetry and is a regional co-coordinator for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She lives in Northern California with her family.

Tracy Hill holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has also completed Stanford University's two-year Online Novel Writing Certificate Program, and her short fiction has been published in EPOCH. She is currently working on a YA sci-fi novel involving volcanoes, telepathy, and cute baby goats. Her day job in biotech keeps her busy, but when not working or writing, Tracy loves to read, travel, run, do yoga, bake too many cookies, and make things out of yarn. Find her on Instagram (@tracy.lynn.hill).

Raelene Van Horn is a children's author in the born and raised near San Francisco. She loves to create stories with a focus in the SF North and East Bay region, and for the children who are growing up here. Raelene likes to engage children in the reading process and help them connect within the community and world at large.

She's also a licensed teacher who, prior to writing, taught Kindergarten and various other grades. But, her experiences as a mother of three, gives her additional invaluable insights into the reading process. A good book can be a most powerful tool and guide for a child in their life journey. For this reason, she believes it's necessary to develop stories and illustrations with a strong appeal to children, their families and the educational community.