John Alexander has been telling stories all his life. He is a professor at UVa, where he teaches a course comparing folklore in Slavic Studies with African American and Native American literature and folklore. School visits.

Bly Brown has worked in education for more than twenty years, as a library media specialist in four elementary schools. Currently, she is the coordinator of Ready To Learn, a literacy Project at WVPT Public Television. School visits & 3/27 StoryFest.

Mary McManus Burke has fulfilled her dream of 40 years to write a children's book. She dedicated "A My Name is Andrew" to her six grandchildren. Mary and her husband, Bob, live in Smithtown, New York and Columbia, Maryland. School visits & 3/27 StoryFest. Y

Josef Beery is a local artisan and graphic designer, who runs "Josef Beery Design." His work can be seen throughout the area, including the unique logo for the Virginia Festival of the Book. School visits & 3/27 StoryFest.

Elise Carbone is the author of several young adult books including Storm Warriors and Stealing Freedom. She divides her time in West Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. 3/27 4 p.m.

Children, Youth & Family Serivces, Inc. is a local private nonprofit agency. Its Play Partners Program increases children's learning experiences in family day care homes with enrichment activities related to classic children's books. 3/27 StoryFest.

Suzanne Tanner Chitwood is the author and illustrator of Wake Up, Big Barn! and Boom Chicka Rock. Wake Up, Big Barn! received a star review in Publishers Weekly, made 2003 Capital Choices 100 Best list, the Top 20 for Child Magazine and the Top 10 for Nick Junior. School visits.

Kathy Coleman, born among the tradition keepers in the coalfields of Wise County, Virginia, has made the preservation and perpetuation of Appalachian folklore her life's work. School visits.

Katharine D. Erskine's first book is the young adult novel Ibhubesi: The Lio. After a law career, she returned to the career she began at at three: writing. School visits.

Paul Evans is co-author of The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, The Rolling Stone Album Guide, and The Rolling Stone Guide to Jazz and Blues. He has written for various publications including Book magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and the Village Voice. School visits.

John Halliday is the Director of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. He has written Shooting Monarchs for young adults and Predicktions for older elementary age children. School visits.

Alison Hart is the author of Rescue: A Police Story, which takes place in Staunton Virginia and Shadow Horse, a novel featuring a young girl in foster care and her work at a farm for abused horses. School visits.

Gerald Hausman is the acclaimed author of many award-winning books for children and young adults including Escape From Botany Bay, The Jacob Ladder and Castaways. He is also a professional storyteller and has been featured on The History Channel. School visits & 3/27 4 p.m.

Jen Hoffman is a member of the nationally syndicated children's radio program, Tell Us A Tale, which can also be found on-line at TellUsATale.com. Jen also finds time to perform in local theater productions and independent films. 3/20 1 p.m.& 3/28 Radio 12-2 p.m.

The Jan Smith Band distills the roots of folk, pop, bluegrass, classic country, and jazz into a distinctive American sound. The members are Jan Smith, Tom Proutt, Jeff Vogelgesang, and Gerald Soriano. 3/20 1 p.m.& 3/28 Radio 12-2 p.m.

Peter Jones is the host and producer of the nationally syndicated children's radio program, Tell Us A Tale, which also can \be found on-line at TellUsATale.com. Peter is currently working on a series of original stories and adaptations of traditional tales for both cd and print publication. 3/20 1 p.m.& 3/28 Radio 12-2 p.m.

Gail Langer Karwoski is the author of award-winning historical novels for young readers, including Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Young Sam Collier. A former teacher, she lives in Georgia and enjoys visiting with students and teachers about her research and writing. School visits & 3/27 StoryFest.

Dee Keith taught Creative Drama, puppetry and children’s theater at Broome County Community College in Binghamton, New York. She is now retired. Area program visits.

Baba Jamal Koram (the StoryMan) is a STORYTELLER who is a dedicated practitioner and teacher of the Spoken Word Traditions. He is a respected leader in the world of storytelling who uses stories to uplift, inspire, and encourage the positive growth of our children, adults, and for our communities. School visits.

Barbara Spilman Lawson presents storytelling sessions and workshops in a variety of venues. A former elementary school teacher, she also performs, directs and producers theater productions. She is the founder of Fun Stuff Publications at funstuff.com publications. School visits & 3/27 StoryFest.

Donna Lucey is the author of Photographing Montana 1894-1928, The Life and Work of Evelyn Cameron, and I Dwell in Possibility: How Women Shaped a Nation 1600-1920. Formerly a photo editor for a variety of magazines, she lives in Charlottesville. School visits and 3/27 6 p.m. Reception Host.

Mary E. Lyons is a former reading specialist and school librarian and is the author of 15 books for young adults. She was a recipient of the NEH Teacher-Scholar Award in 1991, a Writer-in-Residence at Sweet Briar College (1998), and a Fellow-in-Residence at the Virginia Center for the Humanities in 1991, 1993, and 1999. School visits.

Elizabeth Massie (1776: Son of Liberty, 1609: Winter of the Dead, The Great Chicago Fire, 1871), award-winning author of adult and young adult fiction, discusses her career as a writer and shares writing strategies and her work in an informal, interactive program. School visits.

The Parent Center offers workshops, ongoing school-community partnerships and consulting services that support the most important influences in a child's life - their home and school. 3/27 StoryFest.

Poets and Writers Group of the Very Special Arts Program create poetry for sharing and publication. Blue Ridge House.

Dylan Pritchett is a nationally known storyteller drawing form African and African-American stories. He is a frequent visitor to the Virginia Festival of the Book and has participated in the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Programs. School visits.

Kelvin Reid, also known as "MR. READ," combines his love of theatre and children's literature as he retells unique versions of classic tales and spins original yarns, engaging the hearts and minds of children and adults alike. School visits.

Eloise Rives Renegar is retired and living in North Carolina where she was an elementary school teacher for over fortyyears. Tick Tock the Chickens' Clock is her first book and based upon a true story. School visits.

Anna Skinner, author of How to Pee Standing Up, is the etiquette columnist for Seventeen Magazine. 3/26 4 p.m.; 3/27 Vendors Fair.

Julie A. Swanson lives in Charlottesville with her husband and children. She grew up in Northern Michigan, the setting for her first published novel, Going for the Record. A lover of sports, the outdoors, and creating things, she writes young adult and middle grade fiction. School visits.

Myron Uhlberg was born in Brooklyn, the site of his book Flying Over Brooklyn. He is the hearing son of deaf parents and his father was the inspiration for The Printer. School visits; 3/27 StoryFest & 4 p.m.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts's Young@Art Program is for children 3-5 and is directed by Robert Johns, Coordinator of Educational Services. School visits.

Michael P. White was born and reared in Atlanta, Georgia. A graduate from the Art Institute of Atlanta, his work can be seen in numerous regional galleries and juried art shows. White also illustrates children's books, three of which have been published. School visits.

Ray-Mond L. White, full-time artist, studied at Piedmont Virginia Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University. His art on paper bags uses mixed media, pastels, and pencil. He gives workshops about art on recyclable materials. 3/24 6 p.m. Carver Rec., 3/25, 1 p.m. Blue Ridge House.

WHTJ PBS Charlottesville is sponsoring its 10th annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest for Central Virginia. 3/27 StoryFest.

WVPT PBS Harrisonburg covers the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia and is co-hosting Share A Story at the Saturday StoryFest. 3/27 StoryFest.

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