Jennifer Emmett is an executive editor of children's books at the National Geographic Society, where she's worked since 1995. She has edited more than fifty books, including Freedom Riders by Ann Bausum; Genius: A Photobiography of Albert Einstein by Marfé Ferguson Delano; and A Little Peace by Barbara Kerley. She is the editor of the Face to Face with Animals series, numerous books in the popular photobiography series, and a number of reference titles, including Our Country's Presidents and American Heroes. Before editing, Jennifer was a researcher for the children's television program "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" for two seasons. While earning her M.A. in English Literature from Boston College, she taught English composition and interned in the children's book department at Little, Brown, & Co. She graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Lisa Graff

Lisa Graff is an assistant editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers, as well as a writer. Her first middle-grade novel, The Thing About Georgie, came out with HarperCollins/Laura Geringer Books in January 2007 and her second, The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower, is due out in early 2008. With the help of seven other New York based writers, Lisa also keeps a daily blog called "The Longstockings," thelongstockings.blogspot.com, about the wonderful world of children's books. For more information visit lisagraff.com, or her personal blog at lisagraff.blogspot.com.

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Melanie Hope Greenberg

Melanie Hope Greenberg is the illustrator of 16 picture books, six of which she wrote. Her books include Supermarket, The Wind's Garden and Down in the Subway. Her first picture book as an author-illustrator was published in 1989. She also has published illustrations with UNICEF, Southern Poverty Law Center, Children's Defense Fund, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Melanie travels throughout the U.S. presenting her author-illustrator workshops to students, teachers, artists and writers at schools, libraries, conferences and museums. She is a former president and publicity director of NYC's Children's Book Illustrators Group. Currently, she serves on the steering committee of New York Metro's chapter of SCBWI.

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Darcy Pattison

Darcy Pattison is the author of both picture books and novels. Her books include Nineteen Girls and Me, Searching for Oliver K. Woodman, The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman, The Wayfinder and The River Dragon. Her books have been recognized for excellence by starred reviews in Kirkus and BCCB, Child magazine Best Books of the Year, Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Editor's Choice List, Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, Nutmeg Media Children's Picture Books on Video, Read Across America featured book in Minneapolis, Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Reading List and many more. She is also widely published in periodicals. Darcy is considered to be an expert writing teacher. She travels throughout the U.S. teaching her Novel Revision Retreat. Novel Metamorphosis, her latest book, is a direct result of helping many writers successfully revise their novels.

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