Patricia Pete grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and earned a BFA in film from Ringling College of Art and Design. A lifelong storyteller, she finds inspiration in narratives of all kinds—whether on the page, the screen, or beyond. When she’s not writing, she enjoys journaling, reading, and taking dramatic close-up photos of food.

Ariyana Taylor—also known as Fumisketchies—is a freelance illustrator and character designer based in Brooklyn, New York. In 2020, she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in illustration. Since then, she has illustrated for both small businesses and larger animation companies, including Titmouse, Netflix, and Bent Image Lab.

Ryan G. Van Cleave wrote his first poem at age five, and he’s been writing, reading, and loving poetry ever since. He earned a PhD in American literature with an emphasis in poetry and has taught at numerous colleges and universities. As The Picture Book Whisperer, he helps celebrities and high-profile clients write picture books and kidlit projects.