Kwame Mbalia is a #1 New York Times-bestselling author and the publisher of Freedom Fire, an imprint of Disney Hyperion devoted to stories about the Black diaspora by Black creators. His debut middle-grade novel, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, and it was followed by Tristan Strong Destroys the World and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching. Kwame lives with his wife and children outside Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is currently working on the next Jax Freeman adventure. For more information, go to www.KwameMbalia.com.
Bria Ragin is an Editor at Delacorte Press, where she works on middle grade and young adult fiction. She also edits novels for Joy Revolution, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books that was co-founded by critically acclaimed authors Nicola and David Yoon, and focuses on commercial teen romances written by and about people of color. She’s always looking to uplift marginalized voices.
Kai Burner (he/they) has been a proud member of the book industry since getting a job at the Bookworm of Edwards back in 2016. In the past several years, he has served in almost every aspect of bookselling, and is currently the Assistant Manager and Children's/Gift Buyer at the Bookworm. He currently serves on the Bookseller Advisory Council and Children's Council for the ABA, and is a board member of their local pride organization, Mountain Pride. He is a firm believer that by putting the right book in a kid's hand at the right time, you can change the entire course of their lives--because every child deserves to feel safe and seen, whether out in the world, within the walls of a bookstore, or within the pages of a book.
Britt J. Camacho (she/her) is ABA’s DEIA and Communications Senior Copy Editor, where she reviews content and language standards across the organization for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. As an editor and cultural worker, she specializes in centering the stories and people that institutions might otherwise leave in the margins. Her work has supported libraries, museums, and nonprofits like the Juilliard School, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. She believes that language is a means of freedom, and that stories help us build the future.
Brein Lopez is the general manager of Children's Book World in Los Angeles, a Pannell Award-winning bookstore whose mission is that every child sees themselves and each other reflected on bookshelves. He has been a bookseller for three decades, having previously served at legendary Los Angeles bookstores Book Soup and Every Picture Tells a Story. Lopez is an advocate for BIPOC, LGBTQIA2+, and Disability representation and inclusion in all aspects of the children's book industry. Lopez is the chairperson of the Young People's Literature judging panel for the 75th National Book Awards.
Brenna Connor, Industry Analyst, Circana Books, has been working with data and analytics for a decade in roles including marketing, research, and insights. Connor is a recognized thought leader on trends in the book industry. Her lifelong passion for books and reading combined with a keen understanding of data analysis enables Brenna to provide actionable insights for publishers and retailers across the book market. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Kozmik is a drag artist from the New Orleans area and enjoys spreading love and acceptance through the community by creating special moments through the art of drag.
Steven Banbury grew up surrounded by farmland before eventually moving to a part of California with notably fewer cows. Somewhere along the way he married his legend of a wife, adopted their annoyingly cute dog, and developed a penchant for writing he hasn’t seemed to shake. The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night is his debut novel.
Tracey Baptiste (she/her) was born in Trinidad and lived there for fifteen years before moving to Brooklyn, New York. She is the New York Times best-selling author of Minecraft: The Crash, as well as the creepy Caribbean-inspired series the Jumbies, which includes The Jumbies, Rise of the Jumbies, and The Jumbie God's Revenge. Tracey has also written the contemporary YA novel Angel’s Grace and many nonfiction books, including African Icons, which was named a Best Book of 2021 by the New York Public Library, Kirkus, and School Library Journal.
Ben Clanton is the New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly series, whose picture books include Mo’s Mustache; Vote for Me!; Rot, the Cutest in the World!; Boo Who?; It Came in the Mail; Something Extraordinary; and Rex Wrecks It! He is also the creator, with Andy Chou Musser, of Ploof. He lives with his wife and kids in Seattle, Washington.
Marti Dumas is a mom, teacher, writer, and creative entrepreneur from New Orleans. An expert in childhood literacy, Marti has worked with children and teachers across the country for the last 15 years to promote an early love of reading both in and out of the classroom. Her bestselling Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest series combines literacy with STEM skills, and humor, and adds much-needed diversity to the children’s chapter book landscape. Her latest book, Wildseed Witch, is a middle-grade fantasy that is already being heralded for its skillful combination of technology, history, and magic.
Kathleen Glasgow is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Girl in Pieces, How to Make Friends with the Dark, and You'd Be Home Now, as well as The Agathas and its sequel The Night in Question, co-written with Liz Lawson. She lives and writes in Tucson, Arizona.
Ian & Sarah Hoffman are the authors of Jacob’s New Dress, Jacob’s Room to Choose, and Jacob’s School Play: Starring He, She, and They! Their books have won numerous awards, including the #72 spot on the ALA’s list of the Top 100 Most Banned Books of the Decade. As business partners and spouses, Sarah & Ian have been working together on building a better world for over 25 years. You can find them at SarahAndIanHoffman.com, on Facebook as Sarah Hoffman, or on Instagram @sarahandianhoffman.
Jandy Nelson is the New York Times-bestselling author of I’ll Give You the Sun, which received the Printz Award, was a Stonewall Honor Book, and was named one of TIME’s 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. Currently a full-time writer, Jandy lives and writes in San Francisco, California, not far from the settings of her novels.
Randy Ribay is a Filipino American author of young adult fiction. His most recent novel, Patron Saints of Nothing, was a finalist for the National Book Award and the LA Times Book Prize. Randy was also a contributor to the Printz Award–winning anthology The Collectors, edited by A. S. King. Born in the Philippines and raised in the Midwest, Randy currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, son, and cat-like dog.
Cheyenne M. Stone is a Paiute who lives on the Big Pine Reservation in Inyo County, California, and she is very active in tribal affairs. She practices and teaches jewelry making, basket weaving, and holistic medicine. Additionally, she is an ethnographer who is involved in K-12 education, and she enjoys writing for children.
Katie Zhao is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned a BA in English and political science in 2017 and a master of accounting degree in 2018. She is the author of the Dragon Warrior series, How We Fall Apart, Last Gamer Standing, and the Winnie Zeng series. She's a passionate advocate for diverse representation in literature and media.