Children's Picture Books

Faulconer, Maria

Author Maria Faulconer
Biography

A San Francisco native, Maria Faulconer is a children's author and freelance writer. Her latest book, A Mom for Umande, is the heart-tugging true story of a baby gorilla who finds love in the arms of a surrogate mom. Recommended by the New York Times and USA Today, Umande received a starred-review in Kirkus and was nominated for a Show Me Award by the Missouri Association of School Librarians. Her first book, Arianna and the Strawberry Tea, was promoted on a national morning talk show. A graduate of Stanford University with an MA from the University of Colorado, she taught high school English, counseled emotionally disturbed teens, and writes for Colorado Springs Style Magazine.

Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts degree, Stanford University
Master of Arts degree, University of Colorado
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes

Dunning, Rebecca

Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author of children's books
Biography

Several years ago my husband and I, along with our three children, settled back in the Colorado Springs area to be near family and for our love of hiking and climbing.

Education/Training
Grand Rapids Community College, focus on English and writing
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Greenhouse Arts Group - Women of Global Action (WOGA)
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
I have a background in public speaking, especially to women on issues of identity, value, healing, and restoration. Topics include: social justice issues, my testimony/journey with God, nutrition, motherhood, and more.

Crespo, Ana

Crespo, Ana
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1976
Birth City
Rio de Janeiro
Birth State
Brazil
Current Location
Monument, CO
Occupation(s)
Children's book writer
Biography

Ana Crespo is the author of The Sock Thief, a CCBC 2016 Choices book that tells the story of Felipe, a Brazilian boy who can't afford a soccer ball and must use a lot of creativity (and a few socks) to solve his problem. She is also the author of the My Emotions and Me series. The series follows JP, a little boy with a big imagination, as he learns how to deal with his feelings. Ana is originally from Brazil, but lives in beautiful Colorado with her family.

Education/Training
M.Ed. in Career and Technology Education - Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
The making of a book (The Sock Thief) - Brazilian culture - Presentations to elementary schools only, grades PK-3. No "whole school" presentations, please! Please visit my website for more information.

Thompson, Faye

Thompson, Faye
Birth City
Fort Morgan
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Retired
Biography

Faye was a crafter during the 1990s. She sculpted with chicken wire and won the President's Award for a large free-standing sculpted horse at the Tempe, Arizona Craft Show in 1993. She also writes poetry and philosophical sayings. Her favorite poem is If, by Rudyard Kipling. Faye settled in Colorado Springs in 1997 and has been a resident ever since.

Education/Training
Graduate of Greeley High School - Miscellaneous college courses
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Writing children's books with positive messages

Kuiper, Daryl

Kuiper, Daryl
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1947
Birth City
Fairmont
Birth State
MN
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Mathematics Instructor - Business Owner, Plbg/HVAC Inspector
Biography

My family moved to Colorado Springs in 1953. I graduated from Widefield High School and the University of Colorado. I have a Master's Degree in Mathematics from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. I taught mathematics in Nebraska and at Widefield High School. I owned a business for 13 years and was the Colorado State Plumbing Inspector Supervisor for 3 years.

Education/Training
Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Volunteer at North Cheyenne Canyon Park
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Mathematics - Education - Construction - Philosophy - I have lectured and taught many classes.

Bentley, Nancy

Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer, librarian, educator
Biography

I came to Colorado in 1973 because of the beauty of the land and the promise of the future.

Awards/Honors
For I've Got Your Nose!: 1993 Junior Library Guild Award
For The Making of a Storybook: 1992 Recognition at the Chicago Children's International Film Festival
For The Case of the Garden Monster: 2004 Colorado Authors' League Award
Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Lake Erie College, Ohio, 1968 - Master of Education, Educational Communications, University of Hawaii, 1972 - M. A. L. S., Library Science, University of Denver, 1974 - University of Denver Publishing Institute, 1981 - Stanford University, Publishing Course, 1983
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - Colorado Authors League - Authors Guild - Colorado Association of Libraries
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Contact author for speaker topics and availability

Bergren, Lisa T.

Pseudonym
Lisa Tawn Bergren
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer and editor
Biography

I came to Colorado Springs as an editor on the team that founded WaterBrook Press/Random House. After four years with the company, I decided to go freelance, but we had fallen in love with Colorado--it's home now.

Speaker Availability
No

Huxman, Karin

Photo of Karin Huxman
Pseudonym
K. D. Huxman (for children)
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Freelance writer, freelance editor, poet
Biography

K.D. Huxman’s first love, after reading, was space. She wanted to be the first veterinarian astronaut. In college, she studied biology and was in Air Force ROTC. After college she became an Air Force officer. But rocketing to the stars was not to be. She married a fellow Air Force officer and settled into raising a family. But she never forgot her love of books or science. Many of her books have a science fiction or fantasy element. K.D. went on to earn an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Norwich University. Her first picture book is Dragon Talk. Her second picture book, Grizzelda Gorilla won an EPPY for Best Children’s/YA Ebook. Both picture books are from Dragonfly Publishing. She writes non-fiction for children at Apprentice Shop Books. After travelling around the country with the Air Force, K.D. settled in Colorado. On a clear night she enjoys looking up at the stars, dreaming, and writing.

Awards/Honors
2019 - IBPA Benjamin Franklin award
Nominated for RWA Golden Heart Award
Paul Gillette Memorial Writing Contest
Gold medal for "The Colorado Coal Field War"
Education/Training
M.F.A. Writing for Children, Vermont College/Norwich University
Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Pikes Peak Writers
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
I love to talk about writing and the business of writing. Please contact me with an idea and I will see what I can put together for you.

Regan, Dian Curtis

Regan, Dian Curtis
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Biography

Dian Curtis Regan is the author of 60 books for young readers, ranging from picture books for toddlers to novels for teens. Popular and recent titles include: Princess Nevermore, Monster of the Month Club, the Ghost Twins series, Barnyard Slam, The Snow Blew Inn, Monster Baby, and Rocky Cave Kids. Coming next year is a beginning reader series called SpaceBoy. Visit her website at http://diancurtisregan.com

Awards/Honors
"Mommies" - American Booksellers Assn. (ABA) "Pick of the List" & Children's Book of the Month Club selection
"Daddies" - Children's Book of the Month Club selection
"The Thirteen Hours of Halloween" - Finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award
"A Sparkly Christmas Eve" - Children's Book of the Month Club selection
"CyberPals According to Kaley" - Junior Library Guild selection
"The World According to Kaley" - Finalist for the Benjamin Franklin Award
"The Friendship of Milly & Tug" - Junior Guild selection; Children's Literature Choice Book; Los Angeles Times' Recommended book; New York Public Library's "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"; Winner of the Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers' Associatio
"The Curse of the Trouble Dolls" - Oklahoma Book Award finalist; Maryland Children's Book Award nominee
"Monsters in CyberSpace" - South Dakota Children's Book Award nominee; Maryland Children's Book Award nominee; Rhode Island Children's Book Award nominee
"Princess Nevermore" - Junior Library Guild selection; Oklahoma Book Award finalist; Oklahoma YA Sequoyah Award nominee; Maryland Children's Book Award nominee
"The Initiation" - 1994 Oklahoma Cherubim Award; 1995 International Reading Association's YA Choice Award
"Game of Survival" - 1990 ALA/YASD Recommended book for reluctant readers; 1990 Oklahoma Cherubim Award
"I've Got Your Number" - 1987 International Reading Association's Children's Choice Award
"Soul Stories: Thirteen Stories about Faith and Belief" - Junior Library Guild Selection
"Dirty Laundry" - 1999 Best Book for the Teen Age, NY Public Library; 1999 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
Speaker Availability
No

Paul, Donita K.

Paul, Donita K.
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Retired Elementary School Teacher and Full-time Author
Biography

Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and author of numerous novellas, short stories, and eleven novels, including the best-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles, a series which has sold more than a quarter-million books to date. She also coauthored The Dragon and the Turtle picture book series with her daughter, Evangeline Denmark. The winner of multiple awards, she live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she spends time mentoring and encouraging young writers. She is proud of her two grown children and she is entertained by her two young grandsons.

Awards/Honors
2nd Place, Romance Writers of America/Faith Hope & Love, 2000 Short Historical Fiction
Christy Honor Award
ACFW Book of the Year
RWA Reader's Choice
Education/Training
Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, University of Houston - Graduate Work in Early Childhood Education - Certificate from the Child Evangelism Fellowship - Certificate from the La Leche League - Certificate from the Institute of Children's Literature
Organizations
Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators - American Christian Writers - American Christian Fiction Writers - Authors Guild
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Literacy - Writing - Reading Aloud