Children's Picture Books

Larsen, Lindsey

Birth City
Lincoln
Birth State
NE
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Occupational therapist & author
Biography

Lindsey Larsen earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in 2007. Lindsey is an occupational therapist, author, homeschool educator, military spouse, and mother to two amazing daughters, including one who lives with disabilities. Through her writing she nurtures meaningful conversations between children and adults, and encourages positive interactions among individuals of all abilities. Lindsey and her daughters have been members and regular visitors to the Pikes Peaks Library System since the military moved her family to Colorado Springs in 2021.

Education/Training
Registered and Licensed Occupational Therapist - Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Meeting Exceptional Friends
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
I speak to children about disabilities, because understanding leads to inclusion!

Van Wieren, M. David

Birth Year (-Died Year)
1963
Birth City
Grand Rapids
Birth State
MI
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Book author - song writer - narrator - music and video producer
Biography

Resident of Colorado Springs for 27 years.
Many of my stories and characters revolve around Colorado.

Awards/Honors
Honorary Mention - New England Writers Conference
1st place Green Chile Cook off - Charter Communications
3rd place Red Chile ground lamb Oscar's Chile Cook off - Make A Wish Foundation.
Education/Training
BA Philosophy USM, graduated Summa Cum Laude
Local Authors Genres
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Inspiration for writing - children's story readings

Kelsay, Cathy

Kelsay, Cathy
Birth City
St. Helena
Birth State
CA
Current Location
Divide, CO
Occupation(s)
Puppeteer/Storyteller
Biography

I have a B.S. in Child Development and have been entertaining and teaching children for over 45 years. I have lived in Colorado for over 21 years and performed shows for all the PPLD libraries (and several other types of venues) as one of my many colorful characters - Mother Goose, Mrs. Claus, Stitches the Scarecrow and more. I use puppets, silly props and lots of audience participation in all my shows. I am now taking some of my original stories from my shows and making them into books. View Cathy's reading of her book Stinky Inky here.

Awards/Honors
First place for Poem "The Beach" written for Oregon Federation of Women's Club
Education/Training
Bachelor's of Science degree in Child Development from UC Davis - Taught school (preschool through high school) for over 45 years - Ran a local play group for over six years
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Ute Pass Social Club - SCBWI
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Anything relating to working with, teaching, reading to, and entertaining children of all ages

Barrington, Gregory

Barrington, Gregory
Birth City
Chicago
Birth State
IL
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Biography

Originally from Chicago, Gregory Barrington now lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. He is the Author and Illustrator of the 2021 Colorado Book Award-Winning Cow Boy is Not a Cowboy and the fractured fairytale Goldilocks prequel Goldilocks and the Three Knocks.

Awards/Honors
Cow Boy is Not a Cowboy - 2021 Colorado Book Award, Children's Literature
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Image of book cover for Cow Boy is Not A Cowboy
Image
Image of book cover for Goldilocks and the Three Knocks
Organizations
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Speaker Availability
No
Speaker Topics
High-energy storytime and activities for children and classrooms.

Van Vleet, Becky

Van Vleet, Becky
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Retired principal/teacher - Current Supervisor for Grand Canyon
Biography

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and former homeschool mom. She and her husband make their home in Colorado Springs, where Becky enjoys gardening, oil painting and hiking and biking in the great outdoors. Becky relishes spending time with her family and especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Education/Training
BS degree, elementary education - MS degree, elementary education with K-12 Reading Endorsement
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Member of ACFW national - Member of ACFW local Colorado Springs chapter - Active in Fervent Church
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Instilling the joy of reading into young children

Mathis, Susan G.

Mathis, Susan G.
Biography

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has nine in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, and Rachel’s Reunion. Mary’s Moment comes out May 12, 2023, and book eleven, A Summer at Thousand Island House, comes out in July. She is also a published author of two premarital books, two children's picture books, seven stories in compilation books, and hundreds of published articles. Her book awards include two Illumination Book Awards, three American Fiction Awards, two Indie Excellence Book Awards, and two Literary Titan Book Awards. Reagan’s Reward is a Selah Awards finalist.

Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands.

Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Awards/Honors
Finalist in the Indie Excellence Award
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Vice-president, Christian Authors Network (CAN) - Member, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) - Member, Association of Women Speakers & Authors (AWSA) - Member, Evangelical Press Association (EPA)
Speaker Availability
Yes

Alfieri, Jean

Birth City
Chicago
Birth State
IL
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Children's Poetry Author
Biography

Jean knew when her eyes locked with those of a smooshy-faced little dog who sat inside a kennel at the Humane Society, that it was love at first sight. To capture their many adventures, she self-publishes short story poems starring her often mischievous and always adorable rescue pug named Zuggy. She enjoys visiting schools around the country and local community events, sharing Zuggy the Rescue Pug, a collection of light-hearted and beautifully illustrated books. Follow the fun online: FB, YouTube, Pinterest, and Insta @ZuggythePug

Local Authors Genres
Organizations
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) - American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) - Pikes Peak Writers (PPW)
Speaker Availability
Yes

Wickman, Susie

Wickman, Susie
Birth City
Wishek
Birth State
ND
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Speaker - Genealogist - Investigator
Biography

Susie Wickman was born and raised in small town, Wishek, North Dakota. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She lived outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for ten years before moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1988. Susie went back for a Master’s Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management. She works as a speaker, genealogist, and background investigator. She is inspired to write books her grandchildren will enjoy.

Education/Training
Master's Degree, Emergency and Disaster Management - Bachelor's Degree, Business Administration
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes

Pease, Elaine

Pease, Elaine
Birth City
Boulder
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Boulder, CO
Occupation(s)
Children's Author
Biography

Award-winning Children's Author, Elaine Pease, has three picture books, a middle grade novel GHOST OVER BOULDER CREEK, the journey of a half-Cheyenne boy as he searches for his white father with Buffalo Bill in 1860s Colorado, and her most recent: an easy reader chapter book based on the true heart-warming stories at Colorado Horse Rescue, SAFE AT LAST.

Awards/Honors
SAFE AT LAST: TRUE STORIES OF HORSE RESCUES. 2016 1st Place CIPA EVVY. A 2016 Denver Public Schools Libraries Recommendation
GHOST OVER BOULDER CREEK. 2015 Youth One Book, One Denver Finalist. 2011 1st Place CIPA EVVY Juvenile Fiction
Education/Training
SDSU B.S. Journalism
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
RMSCSBWI - RMFW
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
I've spoken about or conducted workshops on topics such as self-publishing vs. traditional publishing (having equal exposure to both in my career), researching and writing the historical mystery middle grade novel ("Dust to
Dust Jackets" panel at Barnes & Noble), and writing and finding the right publisher for your picture book.

Bowersox, Jodi

Bowersox, Jodi
Pseudonym
J. B. Stockings
Birth City
Franklin
Birth State
NE
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author - Artist - Seamstress
Biography

Jodi Bowersox has never liked being put in a box. Over the course of her life, she has been an actress, seamstress, designer, business owner, homeschool teacher, kid's choir director, and artist, so it's only natural that her writing would take on an eclectic flare as well.

Her romance novels span genres from faith fiction to suspense to time travel to sci fi with small town and big city settings. Several have won awards from the Colorado Book Awards, the Colorado Authors League, and the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. She has also been named a finalist in the American Fiction Awards and the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards.

In addition to novels, she has children's picture books to her credit under the name J.B. Stockings that include her new series of books for birth to three that she calls Sing-a-Story books.

As an award-winning watercolor artist, Jodi specializes in pet portraits and has illustrated a couple of her children’s books herself. A Tale of Two Kitties and Cats feature some of her favorite pets. You can read more about Jodi’s writing and other creative endeavors, as well as read samples of her books, at jodibowersox.com.

Jodi lives in the heart of Colorado Springs with her husband and too many cats where they never get tired of looking at the mountain views.

Education/Training
B.A. in Theater from Sterling College, Sterling KS
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Member of the Colorado Authors League
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
The Writing Process - The Editing Process