Author Interviews

Author Spotlight: Ali Terese

By on December 11, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

In today’s Author Spotlight, Sydney Dunlap chats with author Ali Terese about her middle-grade novel, VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T.

Ali Terese is a middle grade and YA author who writes funny and heartfelt stories including FREE PERIOD (Scholastic – 2024) and VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T. (Aladdin / Simon & Schuster – 2025). Her work has received the National Book Award – Longlist honor, a School Library Journal starred review, an Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award, and a Kids’ Indie Next selection. FREE PERIOD is part of the Chicago Battle of the Books and Texas’s Lone Star Reading List. Visit Ali online for book bonuses, giveaways, and resources like discussion guides, recipes, craftivism projects, and more at aliterese.com.

All About the Book!

From the author of National Book Award-longlisted FREE PERIOD comes a new hijinks-fueled comedy about finding your voice, perfect for fans of Carrie Firestone and Lisa Yee!

Sporty Meg and fashionista Jo don’t have much in common besides being 7th graders at Somerset Middle School, where everyone is obsessed with being voted the Greatest of All Time and celebrated at the Harvest Ball. But when their mascot Somerset Babette (aka the world’s cutest goat) is kidnapped, Jo and Meg are wrongfully accused of being the culprits.

The burned-out soccer star and chronically-ill overachiever band together and assemble a rag-tag squad to steal the goat back. Banter, activism, self-care, double-crosses, big shenanigans, and even bigger feelings follow as the girls fight to change how animals are treated at their school and achieve true freedom for their four-legged, sweater-chewing friend in this laugh-out-loud middle-grade heist centering friendship and bodily autonomy.

Interview with Ali Terese!

Congratulations on your new book release! I absolutely adored it! Publisher’s Weekly gives VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T. a starred review and writes, “Centering an intersectionally diverse cast across Meg and Jo’s alternating first-person POVs, Terese delivers a joyful slice-of-life romp about finding oneself and uplifting others.” I love this description of your book. What inspired this story?

I call this book Ted Lasso for tweens because it is full of hope, hilarity, and people who really care about each other and their goat! The book is set in a sports-crazed suburban town where the middle school mascot, Somerset Babette, has lost her little farm to yet another sports field and is now trapped in a parking lot. Well the kids are not going to let that happen to her! 7th grader Jo is already scheming to set the goat free when she and classmate Meg witness Babette getting kidnapped. Meg and Jo bring together a reverse heist crew to steal Babette back so they can truly change the way animals are treated on their campus. There are wild chases, double-crosses over disco fries, and an accounting fart joke for the ages. In standing up for Babette, the students find their voices in making decisions about their own bodies too, which is what inspired me to write this book in the first place.

When I was younger I had juvenile arthritis like Jo and a sports injury like Meg, but I didn’t know how to make my voice heard. So when the adults in my life said things like champions play through pain, you’re exaggerating, and limping will make it worse, I took all that to heart. I believed that my body existed in service to a game, teammates, a sport. When in reality, our precious bodies belong to us alone, and there isn’t some switch that flips when we turn 18 so that we know how to make decisions about ourselves. We need to learn as children when to rest, when to seek care, and build a society that allows those things to happen. I think kids deserve hilarious, affirming stories to remind them that they have a say over their own health and safety right now, and I feel so lucky that I get to write them.

Characters

Meg and Jo are such interesting main characters, and I enjoyed the rest of the cast as well. Who was your favorite character to write in this book, and why?

This is an impossible question! But I’ll say Meg because she is such an earnest goofball. When she’s injured at the beginning of the book and is forced to take a break from soccer, it gives her a chance to ask if playing this sport nonstop is how she wants to spend her life. Over the course of the story, she realizes she doesn’t actually know! Which I think is good for kids to see. She loves the game, but she isn’t willing to pay the price of her pain to play it at the level her dad and coaches expect. It is so hard to speak up for yourself in these situations, to see something different than the way you’ve always lived, and I loved spending time with Meg as she made her messy way through it. My hope is that young readers will reflect on her story and think about the decisions they’re making.

Craft

The plot has some great twists, and the heist element was fun and suspenseful. Was it difficult to craft? What were your biggest challenges in writing this?

I had so much fun with it! From a craft perspective, I had to keep reminding myself that even though there were mystery elements to figuring out who had taken Babette and why, the real focus was on the heist team. For me, heists are perfect for middle grade stories because they are natural team building exercises. Everyone has to recognize their own special skill and the special skills of the kids around them, figure out how they can all fit together to solve a problem, and then work with people who are different from them to create change. I also really enjoyed that Meg found her love of being part of a team in soccer translated to putting the squad together to save Babette. I hope sporty readers will think about how their creativity and leadership skills on the field can help them make a difference on issues they care about too.

Impact

As an animal lover, I really liked the concern for Babette and her well being. And the fact that the kids cared enough to do something. You are so good at writing stories that spur kids to positive action for their communities. Can you tell us a little about your 2023 debut novel, FREE PERIOD, and how it has spurred positive change in communities?

FREE PERIOD is a middle grade comedy where a couple of chaos monsters fight to get maxi-pads in all school bathrooms for all students who menstruate. It uses comedy, delightfully disgusting desserts including maxi-pad cupcakes and tampretzels, and wildly weird crafts like crochet utersuses to get kids laughing and having fun with an issue that can sometimes be different to talk about. My hope is that it is an entry point to the school period equity movement which is one of the greatest examples of student led action in our nation’s history. When I first started working on the book about a decade ago, no states required pads in schools. Now because of the work of students and their allies, about half the states in the country either require pads in some school bathrooms or provide funding for them. It has been so amazing to hear from young readers that they’ve gone to their principal after reading the book to advocate for period products and to partner with non-profits around the country doing this work. In the bigger picture, I hope kids see from Gracie and Helen’s story that you don’t need fancy or formal training to create change. Advocacy is for everyone, and they can use what they already love to do in life to make their voices heard.

Inspiration

Your new book also addresses the themes of sports burnout/bodily autonomy and a gradual return to playing after injury. These are so timely and relevant for today’s young athletes, and from what I can tell, rarely addressed. Did a personal experience motivate you to explore these areas in your book, or how did you decide to highlight these topics?

As I mentioned earlier, I was motivated by own experiences with sports injury and chronic illness as a young athlete. But when I started research for this book, it seemed so much had gotten worse rather than better in the decades since I played. Of course as a parent, I knew there were still overzealous parents and coaches, all the more complicated as children are pushed to specialize in a single sport and even play on more than one team per season. I was honestly shocked, though, to see the number of specialized children’s sports injury clinics popping up around the country for game nights. If there are so many injuries to justify a dedicated care center, how have the adults not stepped back to say, wait should we reevaluate what is causing all these injuries to children in the first place? That really informed the collective action aspect of the book. Children should be able to play and enjoy sports, but if their adults aren’t going to help them do it responsibly, teammates may have to work together to demand protections like a safe return-to-play plan that involves gradually returning after injury or burnout under the supervision of medical professionals. Also, grown-ups get it together.

Favorite Experiences

What have been some of your favorite experiences since becoming a published author?

If you go to my author website aliterese.com you’ll see a big part of my art is bringing the book world into the real world through craft. If there is a cuterus uterus cookie in the book you better believe I’m baking those in my kitchen. Same with the free bracelets, yarn crafts, t-shirts, games, and other resources on there. A few weeks ago, I heard from a young reader that picked up VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T. at her local indie and saw the crochet Babette I’d dropped off at the store. And now she is crocheting her own Babette with her mom. My heart!! Can there be anything better than the art you put into the world bringing parents and kids together? I hope they make the cutest goat ever and talk about the intergenerational issues in the story while they do!

Advice

What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Please believe it when everyone says a bad agent is worse than no agent. I know it is so hard to hear when querying gets more challenging each year, but this isn’t gatekeeping. It is writers sharing their experiences which can range anywhere from wasted time to bad deals to dead books to not even wanting to participate in the industry anymore. You need and deserve to work with a professional who has the knowledge and experience to sell your book and advocate for you. Don’t settle for anything less!

Up Next

Can you give us some insights into what you’ll be working on next?

A laugh-out-loud feminist adventure where messy girls change the world.

And for the lightning round:

Coffee or tea?

All of the espresso please

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunrise

Favorite place to travel:

The Dolomites

Favorite dessert:

Whipped cream

Superpower:

Outlining

Favorite music:

Vitamin String Quartet – I actually got to see them in concert this year! They were so funny in addition to playing great music.

Favorite book from childhood:

THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin

PS Thank you so much to Sydney and From the Mixed Up Files blog for all you do to promote children’s literature!!!

Find Ali on Instagram at @alitereseauthor.
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WNDMG Author Interview: Khushboo Patel on her Verse Novel ALL THAT CHANDNI KNOWS

By on December 10, 2025   /   Author Interviews, Diversity, WNDMG  

 

Author Interview – Khushboo Patel

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Khushboo Patel today. Khushboo is a debut author of a gorgeous new middle grade novel in verse as well as a couple picture books, and I had the honor of reading (and blurbing) her gorgeous MG book! Her title is called “All That Chandni Knows” which launches from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers/ Penguin Kids on March 31, 2026.

I absolutely loved every bit of this book— the verse, the plot, the character, the voice. I find myself always searching for new verse novels, and I promise you—this one is magical!

 I was enthralled from the very first page of the book, and I know everyone will adore it too!

I encourage everyone to buy a copy for themselves and their classrooms and libraries.

About ALL THAT CHANDNI KNOWS:

Description taken from online:

A powerful middle-grade novel in verse set in India at the turn of the millennium that follows a 12-year-old girl as she navigates new beginnings, difficult truths and a crush.

Perfect for fans of The Night Diary; Red, White and Whole; and Remember Us. 

For twelve-year-old Chandni, 1999 is the year everything must be perfect. And why shouldn’t it be?

Her parents are well-respected doctors in the community, she’s the leader of her friend group, and her crush is even hinting at liking her back. She also has her sights set high on a spot at India’s most prestigious boarding school for girls. If she stays focused and works hard, the dream just may be in reach.

But as the boarding school selection looms closer, Chandni is overwhelmed by a devastating secret that’s threatening to tear her family apart. With life and relationships spiraling around her, Chandni will have to decide between pursuing her ambitions and protecting her family.

Set against the vibrant turn of the millennium in India, this debut middle-grade novel in verse is a beautiful and vulnerable story about the seismic events that life throws at us and the love that helps us brave it all.

Interview with Khushboo:

I loved getting to talk to Khushboo about her new book and I know you will enjoy meeting her and Chandni as well.

 

SSS: What a wonderful book. I was interested right away, from the very first page and Chandni’s teasing of her secret! What is the inspiration behind Chandni’s tale (and only what you feel comfortable sharing) ?

KP: Thank you, Shifa! I so appreciate the care with which you asked this question.

This story started for me with these questions: What happens when the world as we know it is upended? What do we fear? What do we rely on? Where do we find comfort or relief? How do we navigate the push-pull between ambition and protection, and acceptance and agency, and perfection and freedom?

And as I was writing, more questions showed up (some that I wasn’t expecting), and I loved exploring and grappling with them. 

This book is very much a work of fiction, but like Chandni, I grew up in Vadodara in the late ‘90s, and I struggled with some of the things she struggles with. And while it is a story of pain, it is also a celebration of so many things I love—coming-of-age stories, mother-daughter stories, first-person stories, poetry, music, my childhood city, language, food and culture, middle-grade friendships and crushes, all the games we played, and just getting to show kids today—a life before the internet.

SSS: As a mom of three girls, I wanted to reach out and hug Chandni! Her voice and her personality are so sweet, and yet full of strength, and the clear care you took to craft a story that was both important and compelling was absolutely remarkable! How did you balance such a strong voice with such a heart-wrenching story?

KP:I think when you are dealing with some pain, it is easy for the character to slip into a complaining or whining tone. And when you are trying to write a flawed character, it can sometimes come across as brash or annoying. It’s all so tricky! I certainly see that now when I look back at the beginning of my first draft, and I think that’s normal because setting up the story is so hard craft-wise, and in the first draft, you are just trying to figure out the characters and the story problem on the page. Good thing we get to revise and revise and revise!

Voice can be such an elusive and inexplicable thing and it’s so often a writer’s unique way of looking at and expressing things, but I think a part of it is also working on craft and story.

I think what helped the voice here is the fact that Chandni is a complex character. She has such different roles at home and at school and so much is changing around and within her, that she is forced to act, even if she is doing some things all wrong. I think it helps to have a character with agency and enough things happening with the plot, which are not things one would usually think of when thinking about voice. Chandni came into her own when I put her through the wringer, and she had to react and do things.

And I am forever grateful to my brilliant critique partner and friend Lisa Carter, who told me that the trick is going to be conveying this story through the eyes and voice of a protagonist who is in pain, YET is innately positive, proactive, and making the best of her situation. It’s advice that I held close while revising.

SSS: I loved reading all the details about Chandni’s life, her food, her culture, and even the historical time frame that was so relatable to myself as a kid growing in America in the 90s/2000s!

How does Chandni’s setting of 1999 India impact her life, her friendships, and her family?

KP: This is such a good question, because the fact is that the story would not have worked if it was not set in this time period in this particular society. She would probably not have kept this secret as long as she did, or would maybe have felt less scared of societal expectations and norms, and then the stakes just wouldn’t be there in the same way.

And yet, the story also lives in a place that maybe feels liminal and timeless and relatable because a lot of these societal conversations (colorism, women’s safety, patriarchy, religious tensions, etc.) are still relevant today, not just in India, but in many parts of the world.

 

SSS: I absolutely loved how the mother was a doctor! I loved how you both critiqued society for the misogyny present in some spaces but also showed the resilience and strength of women that have always persevered and taken up space throughout any time and place. How did you strike this balance?

KP: I loved exploring that in this book—that mirroring of ambition and the pull of dreams, and staying true to oneself, even for the mother. How the conditions are always difficult, but we try to push boundaries for ourselves and future generations. And also, the tension of how that sits alongside the demands of motherhood. Life and society are not perfect, so then, what is the perfect choice? Which also ties into one of the main themes of the book.

 

Link to order here.

Writing Process

 

SSS: When did you start writing the story and was the process a long one?

KP: I wrote just one chapter in prose in September, 2022 and shared it and the premise with Joyce (my lovely agent), who immediately cheered it on. Then the story mostly just sat in my head and in the form of a list of scenes as notes. In February, 2023, I did a workshop with SCBWI on beginnings and endings, and I then started drafting more seriously, this time in verse. From there, the first draft came out pretty quickly, and I shared it with some writing friends and then with Joyce in April, 2023, who loved it. I also sent it out for more critiques and then again, I just sat with the feedback and the story. So much of writing for me is also just thinking about the story and the many directions it could go in and working things out in my head before I put them on paper. I wasn’t feeling ready to put it out and wanted to revise more, but didn’t know how to begin, and I was also working on my other picture books and taking more courses and learning craft. Simone (my brilliant editor) acquired it in May, 2024, and it went through several intense rounds of revisions after that! Writing is never easy for me, but the whole process has been so rewarding, and I will forever cherish these years I spent working on it.

 

SSS: How is the process of writing a historical novel in verse? Was there anything specific you had to research, or did you write it from mostly your personal memories?

KP: Since it’s not a fact/history-heavy story, it was mostly from personal memories and mining memories of friends and family. It was so fun to go down memory lane! In terms of research, I did do some general search to nail down the specific year that would work best for the story, and I also spent a lot of time listening to music from that time, to find exactly what I needed for certain scenes.

SSS: Any advice for fellow middle-grade authors?  

KP: I’m not sure I know enough to give advice, but one thing that has really helped me is the support of my writing friends, so I’d say, find your writing community.

The writing process is so personal, so the best advice seems to be—try different things and do what works for you.

And here are some things I routinely tell myself:

Just try. This is a long game, rejection/ block is a part of the process, and endurance/ giving yourself grace is key. Read deep and wide and engage with different types of art (paintings, music, architecture, movies, etc.). See what you like, don’t like, lean into your taste, and trust your gut. Try new things and keep your mind open. Keep learning craft. Do the deep work. Ask for help. Let go of perfection, get past the cringe, and be okay with ‘failing’ publicly. And don’t forget to have fun!

All easier said than done!

Bonus!

SSS: Bonus question! Is there anything I haven’t asked that you’d like to share with us?

KP: No, I think you covered it all. You asked such great, thoughtful questions!

SSS: What else can we look forward to from you?

KP: My picture book Stolen Colors, illustrated by Tara Anand (who also did the beautiful cover art for Chandni!) is out from Levine Querido on March 3, 2026. It is a book about body safety and consent, and I can’t wait for the world to see Tara’s stunning, powerful art.

And I have another picture book My House is a Muddy River coming out from Putnam/ Penguin Kids in Spring 2027, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu, which was actually my first book deal!  It’s a flood story set in India and I recently got to see the gorgeous first sketches.

I feel so grateful to get to work with such amazing artists and editors.

 

Thank you Khushboo for joining us- and again, I reiterate to everyone to go READ THIS BOOK!!!

 

KP: Thank you for having me! I so appreciate your kind words and support. You and your work are an inspiration, Shifa! All my best to you.

 

About Khushboo Patel:

Khushboo Patel is an Indian American author of children’s books. Before she found the courage to write, she was a lawyer and an entrepreneur. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. All That Chandni Knows is her debut novel.

 

Website: https://www.khushboo-patel.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/khushboo_.patel._/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/khushboopatel.bsky.social

 

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The Case of the Disappearing Book: An Interview with Susan Martineau Author of Real-Life Mysteries and Disasters

By on November 21, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

When I brought Real-Life Mysteries and Disasters into my home, it immediately created a mystery of its own. Every time I went to grab the book from where I had left it, the book had vanished! Leave it on the side table and a few minutes later Poof! empty table. Leave it on the chair and next thing I know Puff! nothing there. Since it is exceedingly difficult to interview an author about a book you haven’t read, I had to get to the bottom of this book’s disappearing act. (Plus, if I could discover the source of this vanishing power, maybe I could harness it to clean my house!) Once the book re-appeared, I laid it in the middle of the living room floor like bait in a trap and . . .  Snap! caught my eight year old and my ten year old in the act of swiping it to read. I couldn’t have been happier to discover that the cause of my confusion was my boys’ love of this fascinating book! (And I did harness their powers to clean their rooms.)

Today I’m interviewing Susan Martineau author of Real-Life Mysteries and Disasters an engaging middle grade browseable book that examines evidence of mysterious circumstances and spooky happenings like: Does the Loch Ness Monster actually exist? What made the Black Death so lethal? And was there really a documented case of time travel? My boys were drawn in by the colorful illustrations and case-file design then held captive by the often eerie information.

So, if you are feeling brave. . . let’s investigate!

Emily Starr: What sparked the idea for Real-Life Mysteries and Disasters, and what made you want to dive into these topics?

Susan Martineau: I’ve always loved reading about mysteries and strange or extreme events. My dad was really into all things mysterious, so there were a lot of books in our house for a budding mystery fan like me. The one I remember best is the Reader’s Digest Book of Strange Stories and Amazing Facts. I used to pore over it in fascination and horror (usually when I was supposed to be doing my homework)! I became quite obsessed with trying to work out what had really happened and if any of it was true! It was handy to be taken on holiday to Scotland so I could sit for hours by Loch Ness in Scotland in the hope of spotting the monster. As an adult, I’ve now visited quite a few of the places mentioned in the book. I am disappointed to say I didn’t see Bigfoot when I was hiking in California or Queen Marie-Antoinette at the palace of Versailles in Paris. I still love mysteries, though, and for as long as I have been a writer, I have wanted to write my own book about strange happenings and unexplained events. It was amazing to finally get the chance!

Emily Starr: Fifty mysteries is a lot of rabbit holes to go down! Because many of our blog readers are also authors, can you please share how you managed so much research?

Susan Martineau: It was a huge task, but so enjoyable, and it certainly did lead me down an incredible number of rabbit holes—and some pretty weird and wacky ones at times! Once I’d decided which mysteries and disasters to include, I read as much as I could about each one. I tried to go back to primary sources like eyewitness statements and diary entries where possible. I looked at any videos or photos, and I read the books that some people had written about their experiences. I checked out newspaper reports, documentaries, and other secondary source material, too. The whole time I was asking, “How reliable or credible are these witnesses or reports?” and “What are the theories being put forward to explain these mysteries?” I always tried to find as many sources as I could to corroborate what was being said or written. In the case of the disasters, I also checked what the specialist experts or organizations said or did about the terrible events. It left me in awe of the bravery of some of these people, like volcanologists who put their lives at risk to figure out when a volcano might next erupt.

Emily Starr: Was there any mystery that you felt more convinced was true after you read all of the evidence? If so, why?

Susan Martineau: There is one form of “haunting” that I find especially fascinating and really rather comforting. These are the “friendly ghosts,” or Third Man Syndrome. There are many stories about folks in danger or difficult situations being “visited” by a benign presence (often a deceased loved one) who helps them get through and watches over them. I read a brilliant book by John Geiger called The Third Man Factor as part of my research. I was blown away by just how many people, from NASA astronauts and extreme mountaineers, have experienced this. It may be our own brains conjuring these “ghosts,” but I think there’s something to it, and I want to believe in it!

Emily Starr: How would you recommend educators use your book to teach students about disinformation and misinformation?

Susan Martineau: I love the idea that educators might use my book for this essential critical literacy skill. It’s so important for students to navigate the jungle of content out there on the internet and in other forms, too. I would try to make it fun, though! After sharing one of the mysteries from my book plus case file, maybe the students could choose another mystery or disaster (there are some suggestions for further investigations in the book) and research it. They could then make their own case file, along the lines of the ones in the book. They might draw diagrams or timelines to analyze the information. However, the most important thing is for students to consider WHO is writing or presenting the information, WHY they are writing it, and WHEN it was written. Can the students find the most reliable sources of information and corroborate it across more than one source? It is important to encourage healthy skepticism and enable students to think for themselves. My tips for all budding mystery investigators are: keep an open mind, follow the facts, and try not to be influenced by emotion or fear!

Emily Starr: The book is designed like a series of case files. While making the content look appealing, it also helps young readers to access the text. How did you come up with that organization idea?

I am so lucky to have a wonderful designer and illustrator, Vicky Barker, working with me. I wanted the first double-page spread of each mystery to “tell the story” and get the reader hooked on it without having too much to read. I think Vicky’s artwork really helps get things rolling along. Then I asked her to design a “detective”-style pinboard for the second double-page spread so that it would change the tone and make it like a serious investigation. I love watching detective shows, and I wanted it to look like one of those old-fashioned pinboards with sticky notes and bits of evidence, along with visuals and the main theories that might explain what has happened. It was important to have a “follow the experts” section for all of the disasters, too, as I really wanted to reassure young readers that there are wonderful people out there trying to prevent disasters from happening. The inclusion of “Big Words” is something I love to put into all my books, as I like learning new words myself!

Emily Starr: Were there any mysteries you uncovered that didn’t make the book? If so, could you share one and why it was excluded?

There were so many mysteries on my list, and it’s growing all the time! In fact, I have just published two books in the UK that include many of the stories I could not include this time. Tales of Scary Beasts and Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings also tell the stories of weird occurrences and unnerving mysteries followed by a “let’s investigate” section for each chapter so that readers can flex their critical muscles.

I had some misgivings about including Spontaneous Human Combustion in Real-Life Mysteries and Disasters at first, but it was one of the stories that always fascinated me (such a gruesome child!) as a young Reader’s Digest reader! It made the cut, and I believe that, like me, children have quite an appetite for this kind of tale!

However, there are some very peculiar mystery stories that I feel are not appropriate for young readers. I haven’t included UFO abductions in any of the books. I started to feel a bit uneasy about the accounts I was reading and the unpleasant things that people said happened to them.

Emily Starr: Are there any future projects in the works you can share with our readers?

I’ve been working on new editions of two other books I’ve written recently. How to Question Everything and How to Think Like a Scientist are toolkits for young readers to learn critical literacy skills. It is essential for them to be able to see clearly through the bombardment of information coming at them through social media and other platforms. The new editions include information and advice on AI-generated content. Students need to be aware of how AI is used, and how it is teaching itself to use information and data. I’ve also included some fun activities in both books and hope they can be of use to educators.

My aim is to enable young readers to be nimble, confident, and thorough fact-finders, unafraid of being curious about the wonderful world around them. My motto, learned from my father, is “Be brave and always think for yourself!”

 

Susan Martineau was born in London, but has lived in various parts of the world including Holland, France and Malaysia. She has written over 30 books for children and won the Blue Peter Book with Facts Award for her book Real-life Mysteries. She is fascinated by strange and weird information and tries to shine a light into the most unusual corners of the world, sparking a passion for discovery and curiosity in her readers. Susan spends a good deal of her time lost on the internet or rummaging through libraries researching, unearthing and checking facts for her books. She loves quiz programs and annoys her family by thinking she knows the answers. (Sometimes she does!) Keep your eyes peeled for new titles exploring the world around us.

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Emily StarrAs a former fourth grade teacher and founder of StarrMatica, a STEM publishing company, Emily Starr has developed award-winning K-5 science curriculumand professional learning materials for 20 years. She is a member of the Iowa State Science Leadership Team, a peer reviewer for the National Science Teaching Association’s journal Science and Children, and a frequent presenter at state and national education conferences. Her debut middle grade nonfiction book will be released in 2026 from the Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation.
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