
	Faculty Bios Lindsay Davis Lindsay Davis is a junior agent in the West Coast office of Writers House, where she has worked with Steven Malk since April of 2006. Prior to joining Writers House, Lindsay worked in the children's marketing department at Harcourt, and taught fourth grade as a member of Teach for America. While actively building her own list, she has had the pleasure of working with such well-known authors for children and young adults as Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Cynthia Rylant, Melinda Long, Deborah Wiles, Kadir Nelson, and Sara Pennypacker. Kim T. Griswell Kim is the coordinating editor of Highlights and Highlights High Five. Her service has spanned the worlds of publishing and teaching, leading her to positions as senior editor, book development manager, a university instructor, and a teacher with the Institute of Children’s Literature. She holds master’s degrees in teaching, writing and in literature. A prolific writer and committed editor, Kim has published more than two hundred short stories, articles, and columns. Her children’s book, Carnivorous Plants, was published by Kidhaven Press in 2002. Lori Mitchell Lori Mitchell graduated with honors from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena California, with a BA in Illustration. Lori wrote and illustrated the award-winning children’s book, Different Just Like Me, and appeared on both Oprah and the Today show. Her other books include Holly Bloom’s Garden by Flashlight Press, a series of six books on character development for Life’s Building Blocks and Marfan Syndrome from A to Z for the National Marfan Foundation. Lori is vice president of the San Diego Society of Illustrators, has been a judge for the San Diego Book awards since 2002, and teaches drawing and composition at Palomar College in San Marcos, and pen & ink at the Athenaeum in La Jolla. For more information about her books, go to www.differentjustlikeme.com Patricia Morris Buckley Patricia Morris Buckley is a freelance journalist whose short stories have appeared in numerous children's magazines, including Child Life and Splash. Her books are represented by Caryn Wiseman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She is the Assistant Regional Advisor for the San Diego Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and teaches How to Writer Books for Children at the Learning Annex in San Diego and Inside Children's Books for the University of San Diego, Extended Studies. Kelly Sonnack Kelly Sonnack is an agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, known for establishing and guiding the careers of critically acclaimed fiction and nonfiction authors, including Janell Cannon, Amy Tan, and Luis Urrea. The Los Angeles Times dubbed the Dijkstra Agency “the most powerful literary agency on the West Coast” and in its 25+ years, the agency has developed a reputation for discovering new talent and representing quality work with commercial potential. Kelly came to the Dijkstra Agency from the publishing giant Elsevier, where she worked as an Acquisitions Editor under the Academic Press imprint. At the Dijkstra Agency, Kelly serves as the Submissions Manager, handles foreign rights, permissions, and PR. She maintains a small and selective list in children’s Literature and currently represents authors of young adult, picture books, a graphic novels, as well as, a few illustrators. Andrea Welch Andrea Welch is an editor at Harcourt Book's for Children. During her seven years with the company, she has worked with authors and illustrators including Molly Bang, Cynthia Rylant, and David McPhail. Recent titles she has edited include Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian; A Particular Cow by Mem Fox; and Ugly Fish by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Andrea is interested in projects ranging from very young picture books to middle-grade novels. Michele Wetherbee Michele Wetherbee is the art director for children’s books at Harcourt Book's for Children . She will be conducting illustration critiques throughout the conference.

Faculty Bios

Lindsay Davis

Lindsay Davis is a junior agent in the West Coast office of Writers House, where she has worked with Steven Malk since April of 2006. Prior to joining Writers House, Lindsay worked in the children's marketing department at Harcourt, and taught fourth grade as a member of Teach for America. While actively building her own list, she has had the pleasure of working with such well-known authors for children and young adults as Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Cynthia Rylant, Melinda Long, Deborah Wiles, Kadir Nelson, and Sara Pennypacker.

Kim T. Griswell

Kim is the coordinating editor of Highlights and Highlights High Five. Her service has spanned the worlds of publishing and teaching, leading her to positions as senior editor, book development manager, a university instructor, and a teacher with the Institute of Children’s Literature. She holds master’s degrees in teaching, writing and in literature. A prolific writer and committed editor, Kim has published more than two hundred short stories, articles, and columns. Her children’s book, Carnivorous Plants, was published by Kidhaven Press in 2002.

Lori Mitchell

Lori Mitchell graduated with honors from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena California, with a BA in Illustration. Lori wrote and illustrated the award-winning children’s book, Different Just Like Me, and appeared on both Oprah and the Today show. Her other books include Holly Bloom’s Garden by Flashlight Press, a series of six books on character development for Life’s Building Blocks and Marfan Syndrome from A to Z for the National Marfan Foundation. Lori is vice president of the San Diego Society of Illustrators, has been a judge for the San Diego Book awards since 2002, and teaches drawing and composition at Palomar College in San Marcos, and pen & ink at the Athenaeum in La Jolla. For more information about her books, go to www.differentjustlikeme.com

Patricia Morris Buckley

Patricia Morris Buckley is a freelance journalist whose short stories have appeared in numerous children's magazines, including Child Life and Splash. Her books are represented by Caryn Wiseman of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She is the Assistant Regional Advisor for the San Diego Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and teaches How to Writer Books for Children at the Learning Annex in San Diego and Inside Children's Books for the University of San Diego, Extended Studies.

Kelly Sonnack

Kelly Sonnack is an agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, known for establishing and guiding the careers of critically acclaimed fiction and nonfiction authors, including Janell Cannon, Amy Tan, and Luis Urrea. The Los Angeles Times dubbed the Dijkstra Agency “the most powerful literary agency on the West Coast” and in its 25+ years, the agency has developed a reputation for discovering new talent and representing quality work with commercial potential. Kelly came to the Dijkstra Agency from the publishing giant Elsevier, where she worked as an Acquisitions Editor under the Academic Press imprint. At the Dijkstra Agency, Kelly serves as the Submissions Manager, handles foreign rights, permissions, and PR. She maintains a small and selective list in children’s Literature and currently represents authors of young adult, picture books, a graphic novels, as well as, a few illustrators.

Andrea Welch

Andrea Welch is an editor at Harcourt Book's for Children. During her seven years with the company, she has worked with authors and illustrators including Molly Bang, Cynthia Rylant, and David McPhail. Recent titles she has edited include Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian; A Particular Cow by Mem Fox; and Ugly Fish by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Andrea is interested in projects ranging from very young picture books to middle-grade novels.

Michele Wetherbee

Michele Wetherbee is the art director for children’s books at Harcourt Book's for Children . She will be conducting illustration critiques throughout the conference.