Dashka Slater is the author of five books for children and adults, including The Sea Serpent and Me, a Junior Library Guild Selection and Cybil Award finalist, Baby Shoes, and Firefighters in the Dark.

Amy Novesky is the author of the picture books, Elephant Prince and Me, Frida illustrated by David Diaz. Georgia In Hawaii will arrive in 2011 and Mister And Lady Day will follow in 2012.

Maya Christina Gonzalez is an acclaimed fine artist, educator, and award-winning children’s book illustrator. She has created artwork for twenty children’s books and has written two of her own. She lives in San Francisco.

Douglas Rees has written nine books so far, and shows no signs of stopping. Some of them are Uncle Pirate, Uncle Pirate to the Rescue, Lightning Time, Vampire High, Grandy Thaxter’s Helper, and Majix.

Jennifer L. Holm is a two-time Newbery Honor winner and a New York Times bestselling children’s author. Her books include Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, Turtle In Paradise and the Babymouse series.

Brandi Dougherty is the author of three middle-grade novels, including Miss Fortune, and two picture books, including The New York Times bestseller The Littlest Pilgrim. When not writing, she’s relaxing with her adorable dog, Jerome.

Mac Barnett is the author of the Edgar-nominated mystery series The Brixton Brothers and several picture books, including Oh No: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World.

D. Scott Miller has worked with California Poets in the Schools since 1994. Writer, visual artist, teacher, and curator, he contributes regularly to local magazines and newspapers. He has recently published a manifesto titled AfroSurreal.

Three students from the Creative Writing Department at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (SOTA) will read their poetry at Kidquake. SOTA is a rigorous, accelerated discipline for highly motivated students who want to study the art and craft of writing.