Katie Gilstrap (KatieGilstrap.com), author of Spacemanatee! and Penny Lu Porcupine, is a wildlife advocate and former veterinary technician from south-central Kansas. Diagnosed with panic disorder and OCD at an early age, Katie strives to celebrate neurodiversity in children's literature by writing kid-friendly books that inspire confidence, courage, and self-acceptance.

Lori Nichols (LoriNichols.com) has written and illustrated numerous books, including The Light in Me Sees the Light in You and her books about nature-loving sisters Maple and Willow (Maple, Maple & Willow Together, Maple & Willow Apart, and Maple & Willow's Christmas Tree), which the New York Times Book Review called "utterly charming." She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband.