Texas Children's & YA
Authors & Illustrators
Texas authors & illustrators, A-k
Jill S. Alexander: the debut author of THE SWEETHEART FROM PROSPER COUNTY. Jill is from Tyler. See also An Interview with Jill S. Alexander.
Salima Alikham: illustrator of ROCKY MOUNTAIN NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS and PIECES OF ANOTHER WORLD. Salima makes her home in Austin. See also An Interview with Salima Alikhan.
Brian Anderson: the author of the ZACK PROTON books. Brian is from Austin. See also An Interview with Brian Anderson.
Jessica Lee Anderson: the author of TRUDY, winner of the Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature. Jessica lives north of Austin. See also An Interview with Jessica Lee Anderson.
Kathi Appelt: the award-winning
author of numerous picture books, including BAT
JAMBORIE and COWBOY DREAMS,
as well as young adult books like KISSING TENNESSE
AND OTHER STORIES FOR THE STARDUST DANCE. She lives in College Station. See also An
Interview with Kathi Appelt.
Dianna Hutts Aston: the author of LOONY LITTLE, WHEN YOU WERE BORN, BLESS THIS MOUSE, and numerous other picture books. She lives in Buda. See also An Interview with Dianna Hutts Aston.
Varsha Bajaj: the debut author of HOW MANY KISSES DO YOU WANT TONIGHT? See also An Interview with Varsha Bajaj.
Chris Barton: the author of THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS. Chris lives in Austin.
Jane Scoggins Bauld: the author of numerous books, including THE VOYAGE OF THE THIRD SEED. She is very involved with the Christian Writers' Guild and lives in Austin.
Holly Bea: the author of several books, including GOD BELIEVES IN YOU and LUCY GOOSE GOES TO TEXAS. Holly has lived in Lubbock and now makes her home in Dallas.
Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt: the author of YOU THINK IT'S EASY BEING THE TOOTH FAIRY? and several non-fiction activity books. She was raised a military brat, graduated from The University of Texas, Austin, and now makes her home in Buffalo, New York.
Kelly Bennett: the author of numerous books, including NOT NORMAN: A GOLDFISH STORY and SPIDER SPINS A STORY: FOURTEEN LEGENDS FROM NATIVE AMERICA. See also An Interview with Kelly Bennett.
Marcia Bennett: the author several books, including MYSTERY AT JACOB'S WELL and SOMEBODY LEFT THE DOOR OPEN. Marcia lives in Wimberly.
Mike Benny: the illustrator of AMERICAS WHITE TABLE, THE LISTENERS, OH, BROTHER! and more. Mike makes his home in Austin. See also An Interview with Mike Benny.
Diane
Gonzales Bertrand: the author of several novels, including ALICIA'S
TREASURE (1995), TRINO'S CHOICE (1999), and TRINO'S
TIME (2001) as well as bilingual
picture books, SIP,SLURP, SOUP, SOUP/CALDO, CALDO,
CALDO (1997), FAMILY,
FAMILIA (1999), THE LAST DOLL (2001), and UNCLE
CHENTE'S PICNIC (2001).
Her books are published by Arte Publico Press in Houston. She is Writer-In-Residence
at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.
Deborah Blumenthal: the author of ICE PALACE, AUNT CLAIRE'S YELLOW BEEHIVE HAIR, THE CHOCOLATE-COVERED-COOKIE TANTRUM, and DON'T LET THE PEAS TOUCH AND OTHER STORIES. Deborah lives in Houston.
Libba Bray: the author of A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY trilogy and GOING BOVINE. Libba was raised in Texas and now makes her home in New York. See also An Interview with Libba Bray.
Shelley Bueche: the author of THE EBOLA VIRUS AND BEDBUGS. Shelley lives in Austin.
Shana Burg: the author of A THOUSAND NEVER EVERS. She lives in the Austin area. See also An Interview with Shana Burg.
Anne Bustard: the author of BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY and T
IS FOR TEXAS. Anne lives in Austin.
See also An
Interview with Anne Bustard.
Rachel Caine: the author of the Morganville Vampire series. Rachel lives in Fort Worth. See also An Interview with Rachel Caine.
Pam Calvert: the author of: MULTIPLYING MENACE; THE MAT MAKER; and FLYING SAUCER. She lives in Del Rio, Texas.
Peggy Caravantes: the author of biographies, including WAGING PEACE: THE STORY OF JANE ADDAMS; AN AMERICAN HERO: THE AUDIE MURPHY STORY; PETTICOAT SPIES.
Randy Cecil: the author-illustrator of DUCK and GATOR. Randy lives in the Houston area.
J. B. Cheaney: the author of MY FRIEND THE ENEMY and THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE. J. B. is originally from Dallas and now makes her home in Missouri. See also An Interview with J. B. Cheaney.
Melanie Chrismer: the author of the PHOEBE CLAPPSADDLE picture books and HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE: POSTCARDS FROM SPACE. Melanie is a fifth generation Texan (with kids at A&M), living just outside of Atlanta. See also An Interview with Melanie Chrismer.
Rosemary Clement-Moore is the author of PROM DATES FROM HELL.
Bill Cochran is the author of THE FOREVER DOG. Bill lives in Dallas. See also An Interview with Bill Cochran.
Suzanne Crowley: the author of THE VERY ORDERED EXISTENCE OF MERILEE MARVELOUS. Suzanne lives in Southlake. See also An Interview with Suzanne Crowley.
David R. Davis is the author of several picture books, including LIBRARIANS' NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. He grew up in San Antonio and lives in Fort Worth.
Carolee Dean: the author of the young adult novel, COMFORT (which is set in Texas). Carolee has lived in both Lubbock and Happy, Texas, and has a bachelor's degree from West Texas State in Canyon. She currently makes her home in Albuquerque.
Cynthia DeFelice: the award-winning author of numerous books at various age levels.
Tracy Dockray: the illustrator of numerous books for children, including MY BUNNY DIARY. Originally from Lubbock, Tracy now makes her home in New York City.
Shirley Smith Duke: the author of NO BOWS. She lives in Dallas. See also An Interview with Shirley Smith Duke.
Kathy Duval: the author of THE THREE BEARS' CHRISTMAS and THE THREE BEARS' HALLOWEEN. Kathy was born in Oklahoma. She grew up in Texas and makes her home in the Houston area. See also An Interview with Kathy Duval.
Marianne J. Dyson: a former NASA flight controller and the author of SPACE STATION SCIENCE. Marianne lives in the Houston area. See also An Interview with Marianne J. Dyson.
Dotti Enderle: the author of THE FORTUNE TELLERS CLUB series and THE COTTON CANDY CATASTROPHE AT THE TEXAS STATE FAIR. Dotti is a native Texan and lives in Houston. See also An Interview with Dotti Enderle.
Chris Espinoza is the author of ROCKET MEGABYTE'S TEXAS ADVENTURE.
Janet S. Fox: the author of GET ORGANIZED WITHOUT LOSING IT and FAITHFUL. Janet previously lived in College Station and now makes her home in Montanna. See also An Interview with Janet Fox.
Sherry Garland: a fifth generation Texan, most of her books are set in Texas. Garland's titles include THE LOTUS SEED, SONG OF THE BUFFALO BOY, SHADOW OF THE DRAGON and MY FATHER'S BOAT. She lives in Bryan.
Gail Giles: the acclaimed author of SHATTERING GLASS, DEAD GIRLS DON’T WRITE LETTERS, PLAYING IN TRAFFIC, WHAT HAPPENED TO CASS MCBRIDE? and RIGHT BEHIND YOU. Gail lives in The Woodlands. See also An Interview with Gail Giles.
Keith Graves: the author/illustrator of several books, including THREE NASTY GNARLIES, PET BOY, and FRANK WAS A MONSTER WHO WANTED TO DANCE. Keith lives in Austin. See also An Interview with Keith Graves.
Peni R. Griffin:
a fantasy, historical and contemporary fiction author for children and
young adults. Peni’s books include: MARGO'S
HOUSE; VIKKI VANISHES; THE MAZE; THE BRICKHOUSE BURGLARS; THE SWITCHING
WELL; THE TREASURE BIRD; HOBKIN; A DIG IN TIME; and OTTO
FROM OTHERWHERE. All of her novels are set in Texas. She lives
in San Antonio. See also An
Interview with Peni R. Griffin.
Lila Guzman: the author of LORENZO'S SECRET MISSION; LORENZO'S REVOLUTIONARY QUEST, and more. Lila lives in Round Rock. See also An Interview with Lila Guzman.
Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz: a poet and the author of more than ninety books for children, including reference and easy reader books. Babs lives in the Houston area.
Daniel J. Hale: the co-author of the ZEKE ARMSTRONG mystery series. Daniel splits his year between Texas and southern California.
Marian Hale: the author of THE TRUTH ABOUT SPARROWS and DARK WATER RISING. Marian lives in Rockport, Texas. See also An Interview with Marian Hale.
Kelly Milner Halls: a children's-and-YA author/commentator. Kelly’s titles include: DINOSAUR MUMMIES: BEYOND BARE-BONED FOSSILS. She was raised in Friendswood, Texas (and has an interest in returning to her home state for events). See also An Interview with Kelly Milner Halls.
Jo Harper: the author of several books, including FINDING DADDY: A STORY OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION; JALAPENO HAL; I COULD EAT YOU ALL UP! and more. She lives in Houston.
Suzanne Harper: the author of THE SECRET LIFE OF SPARROW DELANEY and THE JULIET CLUB. Suzanne graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and now makes her home in New York. See also An Interview with Suzanne Harper.
Betsy Haynes: the author of several books, including DEADLY DECEPTION, THE GREAT MOM SWAP; and THE FABULOUS FIVE. Betsy lives on Lake Lewisville, north of Dallas.
Joy Fisher Hein: the debut
illustrator of MISS LADY BIRD'S WILDFLOWERS
by Kathi Appelt (HarperCollins, 2005). Joy is from the Texas Hill country. See also An
Interview with Joy Fisher Hein.
Helen Hemphill: the author of LONG GONE DADDY. Helen is a native Texan, who lives with her family in Nashville and Austin. See also An Interview with Helen Hemphill.
Heather Hepler: author of THE CUPCAKE QUEEN and more. See also An Interview with Heather Hepler.
Kristi Holl: a writing teacher and the author of more than 20 books for young readers. She lives in San Antonio.
K.A. Holt: the author of MIKE STELLAR: NERVES OF STEEL. K.A. makes her home in Austin. See also An Interview with K.A. Holt.
Kimberly Willis Holt: the author of WHEN
ZACHARY BEAVER CAME TO TOWN, which won
the National Book Award, as well as the multi-award-winning MY LOUISIANA
SKY and MISTER AND ME (among others).She lives in Amarillo and is
highly recommended as a speaker. See also An
Interview with Kimberly Willis Holt. 
P. J. Hoover: official site of the debut author of THE FORGOTTEN WORLDS books, published by Blooming Tree Press. P. J. lives in Austin.
Louise A. Jackson: the author of EXILED! and GONE TO TEXAS: FROM VIRGINIA TO ADVENTURE. Louise has Texas roots and specializes in historical fiction.
A. M. Jenkins is the author of several young adult novels, including BEATING HEART and REPOSSESSED. She lives in Benbrook, Texas.
Layne Johnson: the illustrator of numerous books for children, including A YOUNG MAN'S DANCE, CHRISTMAS FOR A KITTEN, WHERE HORSES RUN FREE and GRANDPARENT POEMS. Layne is a native Houstonian. See also An Interview with Layne Johnson.
Regan Johnson: the author/illustrator of LITTLE BUNNY KUNG FU. She lives in the Austin area.
Varian Johnson: the author of MY LIFE AS A RHOMBUS. Varian is based in Austin. See also An Interview with Varian Johnson.
Janet Kaderli: the author of PATCHWORK TRAIL and MOLASSES COOKIES.
Jacqueline Kelly is the author of THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE. Jacqueline lives in Austin. See An Interview with Jacqueline Kelly.
Doug Kennedy: the illustrator of the PIRATE PETE picture book series. Doug lives in Austin.
J. Aday Kennedy: official site of the Texas-based Christian children's author. See also J. Aday Kennedy: A Writing Playground. Peek: "Read interviews of children authors, children illustrators, teachers, homeschoolers and tips on writing."
Helen Ketteman: the author of THE YEAR OF NO MORE CORN, THE CHRISTMAS BLIZZARD, and LUCK WITH POTATOES.
Christine Kohler: the author of TURKEY IN THE NEWS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE and FOR A BETTER LIFE. Christine is based in San Antonio.