Middle Grade
Middle Grade writers from Minnesota.
V.T. Bidania
V.T. Bidania is the author of the Astrid and Apollo chapter book series, which is the first children’s book series to star Hmong American characters. She was born in Laos and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, right where Astrid and Apollo live! She has an MFA in creative writing from the New School and…
Joan Marie Verba
Joan Marie Verba is an author, publisher, and web developer. An experienced writer, she is the author of the nonfiction books Voyager: Exploring the Outer Planets and Boldly Writing, as well as fiction such as Twelve, Defying the Ghosts, Sword of Queens, and Wondry Dragon Finds a Home, among many other books and short stories.…
Tom Xavier
Tom Xavier is the award-winning author of Neffatira’s First Challenge, described by Kirkus Reviews as a “rousing series opener with equal portions of action and social commentary” and Dark Curses, Faerie Dreams, recipient of a Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Seal in Juvenile Fiction, a 2018 Book Excellence Awards Finalist, and a Royal Dragonfly Book Awards…
Mary Bleckwehl
Mary Bleckwehl has spent her career promoting literacy and the love of learning. She taught for over 25 years and held administrative positions in higher education in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Minnesota. Bleckwehl grew up in a large farm family and quickly learned magic and grabbed every opportunity to read. Bleckwehl has three adult…
Matt Lilley
Matt Lilley has published more than 20 children’s books. He has an M.S. in Scientific and Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota. The focus of his degree was on health and medical writing, with a special emphasis on medical writing for kids. His other favorite writing subjects include exploration and nature. He loves learning…
Joanne Vruno
Joanne Vruno grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota, just houses away from Battle Creek Regional Park, where she spent most of her childhood days hiking and exploring. Her love for nature and the wooded parkland bordering Battle Creek created the magic of the Seasons of Elves series, just as her love for the lakes created her…
Ann Schoenbohm
Ann Schoenbohm holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota and a BFA in acting from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She currently volunteers with several organizations as a literacy tutor and teaches writing in Minneapolis community education programs. Rising Above Shepherdsville is her debut…
Natalie Fowler
Once a practicing attorney, Natalie Fowler is an author, a freelance editor (for FATE Magazine), paranormal investigator (for Ghost Stories Ink) and a psychic medium. Fascinated by good ghost stories from a very young age, now she writes her own stories inspired by her work as a ghost hunter and psychic medium. An avid researcher…
Bill Meissner
Writer/teacher Bill Meissner is the author of 11 books, including four books of fiction, five books of poetry, and two novels. His newest book is Summer of Rain, Summer of Fire, a family drama novel set during the turbulent years of the late 1960s. He frequently visits schools – from elementary school to college level…
Leanne M. Benson
Leanne M. Benson is a children’s author and illustrator. She earned an Art degree from the University of Minnesota. Among other things, Benson has worked in the public-school systems as an Art Adventure Coordinator, and with students in the English Secondary Language program. She and her husband moved from the Twin Cities a few hours…