Meet The Club Members

Andrew Hacket is a writer, second-grade teacher, and father of three. He is also the author of the upcoming Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, Curlilocks and the Three Hares, and Hope and the Sea. Andrew recognizes that being a kid is hard and he writes to create ways for kids to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations.

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andrewhacket.com

Audrey Perrott is the author of MOO HOO (Scholastic Press, 2024) and A HAT FOR HOUSE (Putnam, 2024), as well as nine non-fiction books for kids with Tangerine Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. She believes funny books are just as important as serious books, and writes both in her North Carolina home. Her family is diverse and neurodiverse, and she writes books where all kids can feel seen and heard while having a bit of fun. She loves to create -- whether that’s on the page, in the kitchen, or with fabric and thread -- and has a constant ticker-tape of ideas running through her head.

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audreyperrott.com

Barbara Kimmel is a children’s book author and playwright. She writes playful picture books and board books that entertain, engage, and educate the youngest reader. Barbara’s rhyming board book HANUKKAH HIPPITY-HOP (Kar-Ben Publishing, 2024) celebrates Hanukkah through playful, interactive text. Barbara is represented by Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary. 

Barbara is active in her community as a reading tutor, dystonia advocate, and hospice volunteer. She has three grown children and lives in Atlanta with her husband. 

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barbarakimmelwrites.com

Brentom Jackson is a psychotherapist that writes about the universal lessons within Black American culture. His work not only reflects his extensive background in theatre and performance poetry but also his hope for a future where every child can see themselves in the pages of a book. Brentom lives in Texas with his wife and son. Together they enjoy park walking, people watching, piano playing, and traveling to visit the interesting places they read about in books.

Chloe is a Japanese American author. A former curriculum director, she has a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She spent the last decade teaching kindergarten, where she discovered her passion for picture books.

Chloe’s debut picture book LOVE GROWS HERE releases spring 2024 with Albert Whitman & Company. 

When Chloe isn’t perfecting her ramen recipe, you can find her rock climbing or dancing in the kitchen with her husband, son, and their imaginary dog named Miso. 

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chloeitoward.com

David McMullin is an author/illustrator/children's poet. His debut picture book, Free to be Fabulous, comes out spring of 2024 with Clarion at HarperCollins. He is represented by Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary. David has poems in several magazines and anthologies, and was the 2021 Madness Poetry Champion. He is also an SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award runner-up and a received a Writing with the Stars mentorship. In past lives, David was a Broadway singer/dancer, an educator, and a public library youth specialist. Currently, he and his husband are full time travelers (80 countries so far), and he is a proud member of his SCBWI region's equity and inclusion team.

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davidmcmullinbooks.com

Dazzle Ng is the author of When an Elephant Hears NO (Page Street Kids 2024) and When a Rhino Has to WAIT (Page Street Kids 2025). As a child, she aspired to be “World President”, an Olympian, and/or a Hollywood star. While her dreams remain sky-high, they’re now woven into the words of her stories—that hope that readers young and old will shape and enjoy a world that ever only grows kinder for all.

dazzleng.com

Jamie Ofelia is the author of the humorous and heartfelt picture book MIGUEL MUST FIGHT!, which is slated for publication with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in summer of 2024. As a biracial Latina, Jamie writes fiction and nonfiction stories so Latinx kids can see themselves reflected as heroes in mainstream children's literature. She holds her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and is currently a stay-at-home mom living in Dallas, where she spends her days reading diverse picture books with her son. When her son gets bored, she continues reading diverse picture books all by herself.

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jamieofelia.com

Joëlle Retener (she/they) is the author of MARLEY’S PRIDE (Barefoot Books 2024).   Once upon a time, they traveled the world hobnobbing with foreign dignitaries and senior government officials. She now works as a community birth worker and an herbalist, and lives in a cabin in the woods. When they’re not chasing or being chase by animals on their homestead, you can find Joëlle making herbal remedies or drinking tea with her partner and 3 tiny humans.

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joelleretener.com

Kelly Zhang is a Chinese Canadian children’s writer and a literary translator between English and Chinese. She writes heartfelt stories drawn from her heritage culture & lived experiences, and aims to inspire and encourage readers to stay curious about their world and to connect with peoples, cultures, and views beyond their familiar ones. 

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Kelly is represented by Hilary Harwell of KT Literary. Her PB debut TAKE ME TO LAOLAO, a lyrical intergenerational tale inspired by Chinese classic poetry and mythology, is forthcoming in early 2024 with Quill Tree/HarperCollins. Her translation of a Chinese MG coming-of-age novel will publish with Levine Querido in Spring 2024.

Kelly is an active member of the SCBWI, a freelance translator for The New York Times for Kids, and a regular contributor to the WorldKidLit Blog.

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kellyzhangyl.com

Kerisa Greene is the author-illustrator of I AM BOTH: A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE STORY (Feiwel & Friends, 2024) and LEGENDARY CAKES (Feiwel & Friends, 2025). She has also illustrated for publications such as Ladybug Magazine (Cricket Media, 2023) and THE IMPOSTER (Gnome Road, 2024). 

Kerisa is a first-generation Asian-American who loves her grandma’s cooking and always craves a big bowl of phở. As a previous preschool teacher and children’s book buyer for an indie bookstore with a background in graphic design, Kerisa has combined her love of illustrating and storytelling into a passion for crafting picture books. When Kerisa isn’t drawing or writing stories, you can find her munching on chocolate chip cookies, exploring new places with her family, and petting every dog that walks by.

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kerisagreene.com

Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children's book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada.  Maria is a former chemical engineer who fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high-concept middle grade grounded in culture. Her debut picture book THE AMAZING POWER OF GIRLS releases June, 2024 from Sourcebooks eXplore.

When Maria is not writing, she can be found traveling the world, devouring books, and spending time with her wonderful family. She resides in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and two daughters.

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marianayagam.com

Nazneen Akbari is an Indian American authro with a rich cultural background that spans Oman, Dubai and her Indian heritage. With a passion for fostering meaningful conversations, Nazneen focuses on values such as empathy, tolerance, and acceptance in her stories. She is currently a foreign service officer, serving as an Economic Advisor for the U.S. Department of State in New Delhi. Nazneen’s debut HOME AWAY FROM HOME, a story about an Omani American girl visiting her grandmother in Oman releases in Fall 2024. In her spare time, she loves reading, travelling and watching theater performances.

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nazneenakbari.com

Seina Wedlick is originally from West Africa, but now makes her home in California. When not writing or working on special projects, Seina can be found exploring or spending time on the beach with her husband and children who each have several names. She also enjoys visiting bookstores and collecting postcards.

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seinawedlick.com