Middle Grade
Middle Grade writers from Minnesota.
Andrew Kantar
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Andy Kantar is the author of a trilogy of Great Lakes shipwreck books written primarily for young adults. His first book, 29 Missing, was a Michigan Notable Book for Young Adults. Black November was a finalist for the Foreword Book of the Year (YA nonfiction), and Deadly Voyage was featured…
Erin Makela
Erin Makela is a writer, middle school teacher, and theater enthusiast. While she calls Worthington, Minnesota home, Makela is always looking for her next travel adventure with her stuffed alligator, Swampy. She is a graduate of Luther College and Vermont College of Fine Art’s MFA program. When choosing music to write to, her go-to playlists…
Melissa Gish
Melissa Gish is the author of dozens of juvenile nonfiction books on topics ranging from biography, history, and industry to science and nature. She is an online writing professor at a small state university.
Minda Gomez
Minda Gomez lives in Minnesota with her husband and three spunky bilingual kids. Their family has created their own brand of “Mexigringo” as they blend their Papi’s Mexican culture with their Mami’s Minnesotan culture. Gomez is a teacher of English Learners at a local elementary school. She has taught second grade in Mexico and volunteered…
Benjamin Klas
Benjamin Klas spends his days falling helplessly through research wormholes from which he emerges knowing about medieval bridge building, German comfort food, blown head gaskets, and the mating habits of reptiles – all of which are necessary for a good story. His first book, Second Dad Summer, and its sequel, Everything Together, won several awards…
Deb Mercier
Deb Mercier is the author of multiple books for young readers across a wide span of ages and genres, including choose-your-path mysteries, historical fiction, YA fantasy, and non-fiction. She’s an award-winning journalist, a technical writer, and the mom of two grown (and fabulous) kids. She lives in Alexandria, MN with her husband, dogs, and outdoor…
Freeman Ng
Freeman Ng is a former Google software engineer and the author of Bridge Across the Sky (a YA verse novel based on the Chinese immigration experience through Angel Island), Basho’s Haiku Journeys (a haiku picture book), The House We Sheltered in and the Masks We Wore (a pandemic picture book), Joan (a novel of Joan…
Scott Dikkers
Scott Dikkers founded TheOnion.com and co-wrote its bestselling books. Widely regarded as one of the most influential pioneers in comedy, his visionary leadership at The Onion, his groundbreaking comic strip Jim’s Journal, and his multiple top-10 comedy podcasts have earned him millions of fans all over the world. Rolling Stone named him one of its…
Thomas Kingsley Troupe
Thomas Kingsley Troupe is the author of the Furry & Flo series along with over 300 other fiction and non-fiction books for kids. When he’s not writing, he enjoys reading, watching movies, dabbling in stand-up comedy, and investigating haunted places with the Twin Cities Paranormal Society. Otherwise, he’s probably taking a nap or something. He…
