Georgia Conference on Children's Literature

J. Kasper Kramer is the winner of the 2024 GCBA Book Awards, the author of the acclaimed novel The Story That Cannot Be Told as well as The List of Unspeakable Fears and Eyes on the Sky. She’s an author and English professor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has a master’s degree in creative writing and once upon a time lived in Japan, where she taught at an international school. When she’s not curled up with a book, Kramer loves researching lost fairy tales, playing video games, and fostering kittens.

Davide Calì began his career in 1994 as a cartoon writer for the Italian magazine Linus. He started writing children’s books in 2000, and since then he has published more than 100 books for children; the first four of which he illustrated himself. His book Piano Piano received a 2006 Bologna Ragazzi Special Award and the Switzerland Enfantaisies Prize. His book I Can’t Wait won the 2005 Baobob Prize. Calì has received the Belgium Libbylit Award, and France’s SNCF award. His books have been originally published in the US, Canada, England, France, Italy, and Portugal, and translations of his books have been published in over 30 countries. He is the author of the bestselling book and series I Didn’t Do My Homework Because… (Chronicle, 2014), illustrated by Benjamin Chaud, which has garnered nearly 50 editions across the series. Davide is also an avid guitarist and founding member of the band, The Bacon Brothers.

Lesléa (pronounced “Lez-LEE-uh”) Newman is the author of 85 books for readers of all ages, including A Letter to Harvey Milk; October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard; I Carry My Mother; The Boy Who Cried Fabulous; Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed; and Heather Has Two Mommies. She has received many literary awards, including creative writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, two National Jewish Book Awards, two American Library Association Stonewall Honors, the Massachusetts Book Award, etc., Lesléa’s work has been translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Serbian, Kazakh, and Chinese. In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country.