Paula's fiction and poetry for children has featured in various publications in the UK and overseas including Mslexia, The School Magazine, The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon and Short Edition.

Paula Thompson is a British children's writer and former journalist with an MA distinction in Writing for Children. She is a SCBWI Undiscovered Voices winner, was shortlisted for I Am In Print 2025 and longlisted as one of The London Library's Emerging Writers of 2024/25.

Ben Taylor is 8 years old and in 3rd grade. He loves both playing and watching baseball, and his favorite team is the Baltimore Orioles. Ben also likes to play soccer, and enjoys math, reading, playing chess, and video games. His favorite movie is The Sandlot.

Shaunessy now lives in Los Angeles with her husband where she enjoys writing, reading, dancing, and hiking.

Read more about Hurkle-durkle and Shaunessy's #kidlit writing in our interview on the Little Thoughts Press blog.

www.littlethoughtspress.com/post/intervi...

Shaunessy is a member of SCBWI, 12x12, & was selected this spring as a mentee in the PB Rising Stars program. Over the past year, Shaunessy was honored to be recognized in writing competitions like 50 Precious Words, the Halloweensie Contest, the KidLit Chuckle Challenge, & the Valentiny Contest.

Shaunessy Sinnett grew up in Goderich, Canada. She used to tell stories as a professional dancer in Riverdance until she discovered that telling stories on paper hurt her feet a lot less. Now, Shaunessy enjoys writing sweet, spooky, and humorous stories for young readers.

Some of Lisa's poems have appeared in Little Thoughts Issue Four: Autumnatopoeia and the collections Clara’s Kooky Compendium and Gnomes and Ungnomes. She also writes prose for young readers.

Lisa Billa and her family and dogs live in Northern California, not far from the mountains or ocean. She finds ideas in nature and through travel to new or favorite places, and likes to learn and write about interesting creatures—from glowing plankton to mischievous lemurs and more.

Read more about Mona's writing, creative process, and advice for fellow writers in our interview on the Little Thoughts Press blog!

www.littlethoughtspress.com/post/intervi...

Mona's new picture book, Moon Choo-Choo, illustrated by Nancy Kincade, is a rhyming celebration of creative collaboration. She was born in the Bronx, lives in Westchester County, New York, and loves to spend time with friends.

Mona Voelkel is a reading specialist and writer. Words are the heartbeat of her teaching and writing life so she is especially honored to contribute to Stirring Words. Her poetry has been published by The Dirigible Balloon and The Milford Journal.

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Kelly has a PhD in English from the University of North Texas and teaches writing and literature courses at a Kansas community college. Her debut picture book, Scrappers (The Little Press), will appear on shelves in 2027.

Kelly Clasen (@kellyclasenwriter.bsky.social) writes middle-grade novels and lyrical, heartfelt picture books. She is a member of Inked Voices and SCBWI, and she received the SCBWI KS/MO Promising Picture Book Scholarship in 2023.