Idea to Page: A Children’s Book Author Showcase
Grab your lunch or a snack and join us for a celebration of picture books and authors. On Wednesday, October 1st at 1 p.m. Eastern / 10 a.m. Pacific, four Free Spirit authors will showcase their latest titles, talk about their writing inspiration, and answer questions about their publishing journeys.
Reserve your spot today. A recording of the showcase will be sent to all registrants.
About the Authors:
Christine Alemshah, author of Bea’s Balikbayan Box of Treasures
Christine Alemshah (she/her) is a biracial Filipina-American children’s author and classically trained vocalist; she is the author of Bea’s Balikbayan Box of Treasures. Christine writes children’s picture books championing innovation and celebrating multiculturalism, often with musical or percussive vibes. She hopes readers will see themselves in the stories she writes. Christine studied psychology and music, earning a bachelor of arts degree from Whittier College. When not writing, Christine enjoys singing karaoke and reading with her husband and two daughters under cozy blankets at their Lake Forest, California, home.
Amanda Davis, author-illustrator of Sometimes Stormy
Amanda Davis is a teacher, artist, writer, and innovator who uses her words and pictures to light up the world with kindness. Amanda is the author of 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport and Moonlight Memories, illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan. Her poetry and illustrations are featured in the anthologies Friends & Anemones: Ocean Poems for Children and Gnomes and Ungnomes. Amanda also has over ten years of experience as a classroom teacher and was selected as Massachusetts Secondary Art Educator of the Year for 2020. She’s passionate about telling stories that allow children to feel seen, comforted, and less alone. When she’s not busy creating, you can find her sipping tea, petting dogs, and exploring the natural wonders of The Bay State with her family and her rescue pup, Cora.
Randy Preston, coauthor of the Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School series
Randy Preston is the coauthor of the Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture book series. He is an African Piscataway composer, writer, photographer, educator, and performer. He was raised and educated in the United Kingdom and Kenya and taught English literature. Randy composed and performed for ABC Mouse, the Kennedy Center’s digital series Songbook, and Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume which had a national tour in 2023. He is excited about his debut picture book, First Drum, arriving in 2025. Randy’s current projects include a musical adaptation of the documentary Love Them First and writing a giant YA novel. He co-authored the picture book How to Sing a Song with Kwame Alexander.
Mary Rand Hess, coauthor of the Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School series
Mary Rand Hess is the coauthor of the Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture book series. She is a poet, playwright, screenwriter, composer, mixed-media artist, and a New York Times bestselling author of a dozen books, including Quiet Is Strength and Belong. Mary loves collaborative arts and working with other creators. She executive-produced the children’s digital series Songbook for the Kennedy Center, and she is co-playwright for the smash-hit musical Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume, which had its world premiere at the Kennedy Center and toured the United States. Whether she’s creating for the page, stage, or screen, Mary has many stories to dream up and share. She lives in Southern California with her husband and sons.