Volunteers

Joyce is a retired educator and school principal who has served the Wisconsin State Reading Association in administrative roles in which she wore many hats, including president, web editor and event registrar. She is the founder of Read the Way WSRA and has shared her ZOOM expertise with all of us as SCBWI-WI webinar coordinator throughout these confusing pandemic years. She is in multiple critique and workshop groups, honing her picture book writing skills. She is also a tree hugger, doorknob collector, and from a close family of creatives. Joyce reads to breathe in and writes to breathe out. Contact Joyce at [email protected].

Anna Aronson is an illustrator born and raised in Northeast Wisconsin. With a degree in history and over a decade spent raising a family, she loves using the medium of picture books to share the beauty of everyday life in the past and present. Anna has illustrated books for both U.S. and international publishers and revels in continuing to push herself in her craft. She is always excited about connecting with other illustrators and those who share her enthusiasm for life. When she is not drawing or painting, Anna enjoys her time on her small hobby farm with her family and many animals, including dogs, goats, chickens, turtles, and geckos.

Kathy (Ackley) Groth has been married to her husband Chuck for 40 years. They raised two daughters and are blessed with five grandchildren. They sold their home and now live a simpler life traveling, always on the lookout for inspiration for her next books. Kathy’s career in elementary education spans over thirty years. Her love for children and children’s literature has been her inspiration as a writer. Her first book, Sunken, Shipwrecks of Lake Superior was traditionally published in 2021. The next book, The Shell Box, was hybrid published. So, what makes sense for her third book? Of course, start a publishing company and publish it yourself. Sunken, Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan was self-published in 2023. Her newest book, Ocean Party, was published in the spring of 2024.

Kelly Flanagan is a newly retired elementary teacher. She believes that there are no reluctant readers. There are just kids who haven't found a book they love yet. Kelly's goal is to write that book. Her first middle grade novel, Holding Onto Courage, was released in December 2024. She recently signed a publishing contract for her second middle grade novel. Kelly lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin with her husband. She spends the winter in Florida's panhandle walking the white sand beaches. Besides writing, Kelly tutors low income students, spends time with her four active, adorable grandchildren, and plays hours of pickleball each day.

The NEWS FOR YOU Editor shares Wisconsin events, book release news, and inspirational articles about the artistry of kidlit.

John loves books. Shopping for them, buying them, collecting them, and, of course, reading them. The library is his temple. His first inroads to published writing were his high school’s newspaper and literary magazine. After nearly two decades in the insurance industry as an actuary, John took the plunge to write and publish full-time. His first novel, Pudge Amazon and the Ugly Ostrich, a hilarious middle-grade escapade, was independently published in August 2023. Two more books in the series will shortly follow.

Liza is an award-winning educator with over twenty-five years of teaching experience. Hello?, her debut realistic contemporary YA novel, is set in Door County, Wisconsin and was published by Spencer Hill Press, NY. It was named a Goodreads Best Young Adult Novel. In addition, Liza has had two adult non-fiction books published through Random House and Gefen Publishing. Several of her short stories were included in the New York Times bestselling Small Miracles series. A die-hard Packer fan and graduate of UW-Madison, she’s married with two sons. Find her on Twitter: @lizawiemer, Instagram: lizamwiemer, Goodreads: Liza M Wiemer and lizawiemer.com

Cynthia Schumerth is an award-winning children’s author. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, John, and their rescue dog, Chance. Cynthia’s debut picture book, Let’s Pop, Pop, Popcorn, won the National Horticultural Society’s Growing Good Kids Award, and the Maryland Blue Crab Young Readers Award. She is a Published and Listed (PAL) Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators member. Find more out about Cynthia at https://www.cynthiaschumerth.com. Cindy serves members as the Northeast Wisconsin Area Representative. She supports Wisconsin members via in-person and virtual meet-ups.

The NW Wisconsin Area Representative supports Wisconsin members via in-person and virtual meet-ups.

The SE Wisconsin Area Representative supports Wisconsin members via in-person and virtual meet-ups.

Samantha Cora is a writer and photographer with a fascination for the natural world. She grew up exploring the woods around her family farm and cabin in Wisconsin, writing stories and taking photos. Her first children's picture book was inspired by a class trip to the Galápagos Islands. Sam has a degree in English and worked as an award-winning journalist and then as a magazine editor for a national environmental nonprofit. She now works in marketing, writes stories, and is the founder of the organization Playful Acorns. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, daughter, two cats, and many backyard birds. Learn more and connect at samanthacora.com, samanthacora.substack.com, and @author.samanthacora on Facebook and Instagram.