MICHAEL THOMAS FORD is the author of more than 80 books for both adults and young readers. His YA novels include the often-challenged Suicide Notes and its sequel, Every Star That Falls, as well as Love & Other Curses. He is a 5-time recipient of the Lambda Literary Award for his work for adults, which includes the novels Last Summer, What We Remember, and Lily. He lives with his husband in southeast Ohio, where, in addition to writing he is the president of his village council and the founder of the nonprofit Amesville Revitalization Organization. He can be found at www.michaelthomasford.com.
SHARON HAWKES retired from a career in librarianship in 2023, serving primarily as director in Massachusetts public libraries. Graduating with an MLIS in 2008, her work emphasized long-range planning, strategic partnerships, library history, and creative programming. She has facilitated live and online discussions about book bans since 2021, including with organizations such as the Ohio Educational Library Media Association, Defense of Democracy, and Ohio ACLU.
ELISA STONE LEAHY is a HarperCollins published author of middle-grade novels, public library employee and member of Authors Against Book Bans. Her first middle grade book, Tethered to Other Stars, was a finalist for the Cybils Award and the Ohioana Book Award, made the 2024 Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices list, the Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list, and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, which called it “beautifully executed.” Her second book, Mallory in Full Color, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, made the NYPL Best Books for Kids list, was named on SLJ’s Best Books of 2024 list, and received starred reviews from The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books and School Library Journal, which called it “a must-read.”
JAMIE MARICH, PhD is the author of over fifteen books and manuals in the field of trauma, recovery, and expressive arts. They include Dissociation Made Simple (1923) and You Lied to Me about God (1924) through North Atlantic Books. She received the NALGAP President’s Award in 2015 for her work as an LGBT advocate and an award from the EMDR International Association for using her public platform in media and the addiction field to advance awareness about EMDR therapy and to reduce stigma about mental health. She is the founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, and maintains a private practice and online educational operations in her home base of Akron, Ohio.
MARJORY WENTWORTH is the New York Times bestselling author of Out of Wonder, Poems Celebrating Poets (with Kwame Alexander and Chris Colderley). Her books of poetry include One River, One Boat, Noticing Eden, Despite Gravity, The Endless Repetition of an Ordinary Miracle and New and Selected Poems. Her poems have been nominated for The Pushcart Prize 7 times. She is also the co-writer of We Are Charleston, Tragedy and Triumph at Mother Emanuel, with Herb Frazier and Dr. Bernard Powers and Taking a Stand, The Evolution of Human Rights, with Juan E. Mendez. She is co-editor with Kwame Dawes of Seeking, Poetry and Prose inspired by the Art of Jonathan Green, and the author of the prizewinning children’s story Shackles. She served as the poet laureate of South Carolina from 2003-2020, and in 2021 she received The SC Governor’s Award for the Arts. Her archives are held at the James B. Duke Library at Furman University. She teaches at Wright State University. She was named a Black Earth Institute Fellow for 2022-25. For further information, see www.marjorywentworth.com.
ABOUT OUR LOGO
ANDY PASSCHIER (they/them), the artist behind our logo, is a trans non-binary illustrator originally from The Netherlands and currently based in the USA. In their work, they focus on diversity, inclusivity and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ topics. They have illustrated several children's books regarding love, family, gender identity, and pronouns.