Paula Abney was born in North Georgia. Her youth was spent on the back of a horse exploring the country-side with a good dog at her heels, which continued after she became the mother of two daughters, Mecca and Jessie. An avid lover of the outdoors and dog enthusiast, Paula felt an intense desire to “give something back,” and after a chance meeting with Sherri and the adoption of Fay, she transitioned easily into search and rescue work.

Michael Allen Austin is an award-winning illustrator, best known for his work in children’s books. Among the titles he has illustrated are Sam Patch; Daredevil Jumper, written by Julie Cummins, The Horned Toad Prince, written by Jackie Mims Hopkins and Railroad John and the Red Rock Run, by Tony Crunk. Art from Sam Patch; Daredevil Jumper was recently named the Gold Award Winner in the Children's Market for the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Illustration 48 West.

Mark Braught has illustrated a  number of children’s books including P is for Peach, A Georgia Alphabet and Cosmo’s Moon that was nominated for a Caldecott Award in 2004. Notably, Mark created the full-color paintings for the merchandising of Warner Brother’s movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Mark and his wife Laura are happy residents of Commerce, Georgia.

Carol Casey is the author of the Dear Baby series, vibrantly illustrated board and picture books with nurturing and playful rhymes for babies, toddlers, and pre-K kids. Her third book, Dear Baby, It's a Colorful World will be released in May 2010. Ms. Casey lives in Atlanta with her husband and family.

Jennifer E. Cheeks-Collins was born February 1, 1976 to a former civil rights leader and a former sharecropper in Canton, MS.  She was a formally educated in the Canton Public School District.  Cheeks-Collins obtained a Bachelors of Arts degree in History from Belhaven College in Jackson, MS in 1998.  She is currently enrolled in a History Graduate program at American Military University. She is the Museum Director at the Gwinnett History Museum in Lawrenceville, Georgia.  She has three published works which include: Gwinnett County, Georgia, Madison County, Mississippi and Walton County, Georgia, all part of the Black America Series from Arcadia Publishing.

Maria Corkern is a 3rd-grade teacher in Alpharetta, GA. She is a reading specialist and a blogger, as well. Corkern earned a BA from Western Washington University and an M.Ed. from University of Alabama. She wrote Doris The Saurus to help students give their writing more definition. It has been very popular in language arts classrooms across the nation. For more information, and teaching ideas, go to . Maria Corkern.com.

Terri DuLong is originally from the Boston area but now makes her home on the island of Cedar Key, off the west coast of Florida which is the setting for her Cedar Key series.  Spinning Forward was released by Kensington Publishers October 2009.  Book two in the series and a Christmas novella with Fern Michaels headlining the anthology will be released November 2010.  You can visit Terri's website at Terri DuLong.com.

Ted Dunagan received the Georgia Author of the Year award in the Young Adult category for his debut novel A Yellow Watermelon. A Yellow Watermelon explores poverty and racial segregation through the eyes of an innocent boy; Ted Dillon wanders through the cotton fields, streams, churches, whiskey stills and his own heart and mind as he struggles with the hypocrisy and wonders of his small world, amid the lingering effects of the Great Depression. Yet with beguiling prose and an ear for the way people speak, the author brings to life a story so engaging and heartfelt that it will resonate with young and old.

Christine Eisner, a designer, consultant and writer, has shared her unique creative vision with thousands of people, including corporate professionals, interior designers, real estate agents, stayat- homemakers, empty-nesters, design students, and teens. Her goal is to offer guidance and practical tools for creating living spaces and routines that reflect inner priorities and promote quality of life.

Mother Hen, aka Leslie Smith Grant, a native Atlantan (Yes Virginia, they do still exist) started her biz called Chickin Feed to help families build healthier habits. Busy schedules, fast food and super sizes were in need of a smack down! After developing a popular Nutrition Tracking Board, Mother Hen landed on the Rachael Ray Show and Chickin Feed has been churning out "Nutritionally Fun" products ever since. Her favorite is a collaboration between a Nutritionist, a PE Coach, a popular Atlanta Chef, a Girl Scout Troop Leader and a Creative Movement Teacher called The Primer | A useful companion for modern families. Chick it out at Chickinfeed.com

Named "the funniest woman in Georgia" by Southern Living, Lauretta Hannon is the author of The Cracker Queen—A Memoir of a Jagged, Joyful Life and a commentator on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Since 2000 she has also been known for her Georgia Public Radio stories, many of which celebrate strong, authentic Southern women (Cracker Queens).

Drake Highlander’s desire to write for children came alive while teaching middle school reading and social studies. Many of his ideas are inspired by his own childhood experiences growing up in a large, close-knit family, and all the outrageous things that went on in that wonderful chaos. Drake lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Lynda and his daughter Mae. Visit his website at drake highlanderstories.com

Laura Knorr’s delightful art has brought to life the pages of numerous books for Scholastic, ZonderKidz and Sleeping Bear Press.  Most recently, her book, “A “ Isn’t for Fox, An Isn’t Alphabet, won Learning Magazine’s 2009 Teacher’s Choice Awards for Children’s Books and was a nominee for the 2007 SIBA Children’s Book Award for her work on The Legend of Papa Noël, a Cajun Christmas Story.

New York Times Bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson was born in the Deep South and raised by a tribe of wild fundamentalists who taught her to be virtuous and upright. Unfortunately, it didn't take, and Ms. Jackson dropped out of college to pursue a career as an actor. She worked in regional repertoire, wrote plays, and traveled the southern third of the country with a dinner theatre troupe. Backseat Saints is forthcoming from Grand Central Publishing in June of 2010. It tells the story of Rose Mae Lolley, a fierce, tiny ball of war wounds who was a minor character in gods in Alabama. Her life changes dramatically when she meets an airport gypsy who shares her past and knows her future. The gypsy's dire prediction: Ro's handsome, violent husband is going to kill her - unless she kills him first... Visit her website at Joshilyn Jackson.com

Special education teacher, and author of the practical and easy to understand book How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher's Salary shares secrets for thriving financially on a teaching salary. He describes ideas for earning & saving more money, for investing & for getting out of debt. He even discusses teaching in other countries as a source of income.

Tim Link, President and CEO of Link’s Wagging Tales, Inc., is an author, writer, speaker, animal communicator and Reiki energy healer for animals. He is also the past president of the Humane Society of Forsyth County (Georgia). Tim has been featured in numerous newspaper, television and radio shows including the Associated Press, “FOX & Friends”, “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet,” “Good Day Atlanta,” “Better Mornings Atlanta”, Forsyth County News, Gwinnett Daily Post, The Bronx Times Reporter, Tails magazine, Atlanta magazine, Shirley MacLaine's “Independent Expression Internet Radio” show, and remains a regular guest on two Internet radio shows. For more information about Tim and his recently published book, Wagging Tales: Every Animal Has a Tale, visit Wagging Tales.com.

Kathy Nash has worked for many years coordinating family and children social service programs in the Greater Atlanta, Georgia area. These programs include Head Start & Babies Can’t Wait. Kathy has also coordinated and spoken at several women’s conferences. She has written articles for newsletters and publishes booklets that promote family values. The passion she has to enable parents to develop caring relationships with their children is reflected in the recommended activities in Big Box, Little Box and on the website. Kathy is the wife of Rev. John Nash and is the mother of three sons including the co-author Damien K.H. Nash of Big Box, Little Box.

Damien K.H. Nash is the author of "How to Load Your Truck: One Box at a Time" and "Big Box, Little Box.” How to Load Your Truck was written for those who found themselves stuck behind the door of life. However, he explains how to unlock their destiny by providing “4 Keys” he learned while employed at a parcel company. Damien has an uncanny gift of showing how everyday processes can turn into meaningful stories which is shown in his book Big Box, Little Box. His heart for family values and character is the cornerstone of his writings. He feels his writing is an opportunity to bring families together. His dream is to have his books/DVD’s and other materials discussed around the dinner table.

Jackie Lee Miles, a resident of Georgia for thirty years, hails from Wisconsin via South Dakota. She considers herself “a northern girl with a southern heart”. Cold Rock River, the journey of two young women born a century apart debuted October 2006 in hardcover. N.Y. TIMES best-selling author Dorothea Benton Frank writes: “Cold Rock River by J. L. Miles is a powerful story of family, love and loss that will keep you up into the wee hours. Absolutely wonderful! Beautifully told and straight from the heart of an exquisitely talented writer.” When not writing, Miles tours with The Dixie Darlin's, four nationally published book-writing belles serving up helpings of down-home humor and warmth. Visit her website at J L Miles.com

Mary Ann Rodmanis a former school media specialist and university librarian. She is the author of the popular picture book, First Grade Stinks!, as well as, My Best Friend (Charlotte Zolotow Award, Ezra Jack Keats Award, CCBC Choice List), Jimmy’s Stars, Yankee Girl (CCBC Choice List, ALA Notable Book, Georgia Book of Excellence Award) and the upcoming, Surprise Soup. Rodman received her B.A. in Theater Arts from Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina and her M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She also holds an M.F.A. in Writing for Children from Vermont College. In addition to writing, Rodman enjoys teaching writing workshops and working as a community theater director. Born in Washington D.C., Rodman has lived in various states and in Thailand. She currently resides in Alpharetta, Georgia with her husband, daughter, dog and psychotic cat, Rosie.

New York Times Best-Selling Georgia author Haywood Smith has written six award-winning European historical novels and five best-selling humorous women's fiction novels, plus a fun handbook for mothers-in-law.  She is currently at work on her newest Southern novel, Waking Up In Dixie, for fall of 2010. Visit her website at Haywood Smith.net

Patricia Sprinkle grew up in North Carolina and Florida, graduated from Vassar College, and afterwards spent a year writing in the Scottish Highlands. She has been writing mysteries full time since 1988, and currently lives in Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. She and her husband have two grown sons. When she is not writing, Patricia is active in advocacy for abused, neglected, and deprived children. Please visit her website at http://www.patriciasprinkle.com/

Longtime Norcross resident Sally Toole invites you on a nostaligic journey through the city's past. Currently she contributes articles to Georgia Backroads, Woman's World, Mature Living, Norcross Weekly and is on staff at Inside Gwinnett magazine. She also writes for both the annual Haunted Norcross Ghost Tours and the Hitoric Norcross Holiday Tour of Homes.

Greg Watkins has given numerous presentations and has written articles in various publications to teach children about bullying, forgiveness, and friendship. The father of four and the youngest of eight children, he draws on his personal experiences to write his Big Bill and Buddies Series. Watkins loves entertaining and teaching children as a part of the Authors in Schools program and is involved in fundraising projects such as the Mustard Seed Communities, a charity for abused and abandoned children. A former Marine, Watkins served during the Vietnam era and then earned his bachelor’s degree from Kendal College of Art and Design. He lives in Roswell, Georgia.

Wendy Wax is the author of eight novels, including the recently published Magnolia Wednesdays, The Accidental Bestseller, Single in Suburbia and Hostile Makeover, which was excerpted in Cosmopolitan. A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Wendy is a graduate of the University of South Florida. A former broadcaster, she worked for the Tampa PBS affiliate, WEDU-TV, behind and in front of the camera. She was the host of Desperate & Dateless, a live radio matchmaking program on WDAE radio, and also produced and hosted The Home Front, a magazine format show that aired on PBS television affiliates across the country.