Samantha Bell

Samantha Bell is an author, illustrator, and writing and art teacher from the upstate of South Carolina. Her stories, poems, articles, and illustrations have been published both in print and online, including magazines such as Boys’ Quest, Clubhouse Jr., Learning Through History, Wee Ones Children’s Magazine, and Kids’ Ark. She’s the author/illustrator of the picture book It’s Birthday Time, Jake, as well as two more picture books to be released next year, Firefly Night (Guardian Angel Publishing) and The Perfect Pet (Sylvan Dell Publishing). She’s also the illustrator of nine other books for children, and her current projects include a chapter book and a middle grade novel. You can find her online at www.samantha-bell.com or www.art-made-easy.com.

Kristi Butler

Kristi Butler is honored, humbled, and so happy with God’s call on her life…as a wife, mom, teacher, speaker, and writer.  With almost 30 years of marriage under her belt, three beautiful daughters flown from the nest…and an amazing 11 year old daughter, adopted from China, still at home to “keep her young,” she stays on the go.  Add to that the privilege of teaching transitional kindergarten, speaking for women’s retreats and MOPS International, she is blessed beyond measure!  The opportunity to write is just icing on the cake…in her free time!  She has written for a Focus on the Family parenting newsletter, for Clubhouse, Jr. magazine, is a featured blogger for Carolina Parent magazine, and is the author of Gracie’s Groundhog Day Surprise  and Grover Groundhog is NOT Hibernating This Christmas!

You can connect with Kristi at her Website and Blog

Deborah S. DeCiantis

Debbie DeCiantis is the Associate Professor of English at North Greenville University (2006 – present), teaches English composition and literature courses and advises the student journal of literature and art, The Mountain Laurel. She has previously taught English at Winthrop University and St. John Fisher College as well as French language courses at the University of Rochester.  She has also served as a librarian and yearbook adviser at two K-12 Christian schools in South Carolina and Pennsylvania.  Debbie enjoys literature on all levels and has a passion for children’s literature that exemplifies the highest standards of language and storytelling appropriate for the subject matter and the age level of the intended audience.

Connect with Debbie at NGU website

Jean Matthew Hall

Jean Hall has been many scribbling for years; but she started pursuing publication in 2004. Her stories, poems and articles have been published in a variety of inspirational anthologies and magazines.Jean has several picture book manuscripts looking for publishing houses to call home. Her goal is to create engaging and encouraging stories for children and the adults who love them.You can visit Jean’s Encouraging Words for Writers and contact her at jean@jeanmatthewhall.com

Sally Matheny

Encouraging others is Sally Matheny’s mission in life. She has a special passion for children. Sally is a contributing writer for the international devotional magazine, Keys for Kids. She has written for DevoKids, and Christian Devotions. After completing a picture book, she is now working on a middle-grade chapter book.

Sally takes pleasure in speaking at various women’s events and children’s groups. God has used her as a facilitator for Bible studies with women, children, and parents. For twenty-five years, she’s taught God’s truths to children, from toddlers – teens.

Sally, a former public school teacher with a M. Ed., is happily married to her pastor-husband and they have homeschooled their children for twelve years.

You can connect with Sally at www.sallymatheny.blogspot.com and www.ziplineofsunshine.blogspot.com

Jan Prahl

Jan Prahl is wife to Craig (twenty-nine years), mother to six children whose ages range from twenty-six to four years old and Nana to two granddaughters.

Ministry to children is a large part of my life, starting with homeschooling (seventeen years and counting). The oldest four kids have all graduated from our homeschool. She also serves as the children’s director at Cherrydale Place Baptist Church. To date, writing has primarily been for personal therapy and family encouragement. It’s an honor to be included in the Write2ignite team.

Rachel Welch

Rachel Welch is an artist, worship leader and musician (percussionist/pianist to be exact). Though she has had no formal training in the visual arts, she loves drawing, painting and just about anything to do with art. Rachel is currently taking the on-line course, “How to be a Children’s Book Illustrator” with Mark Mitchell, and hopes to one day collaborate on a children’s book with her sister, author Donna Earnhardt.You can see Rachel’s sketches at http://eatbreathedoodle.wordpress.com/