Samantha Thornhill is a poet, educator, and children's book author. Her work has been published in over two dozen literary journals and anthologies. She has taught poetry to acting students at the Juilliard School and creative writing seminars at the Bronx Academy of Letters. She also facilitates workshops for the Dialogue Arts Project, which ventures into professional settings and uses creative writing as a tool to navigate uncomfortable discussions about social identity. A dual citizen of the United States and Trinidad & Tobago, Samantha has since retired from her active life in New York City to her native island of Trinidad. Learn more about her at samanthaspeaks.com.
Shirley Ng-Benitez is a Bay Area children’s book author/illustrator who has illustrated 35+ children’s books, and has a background in Graphic Design (GabbyandCo.com), and hand-lettering (American Greetings, Inc.). She works and experiments in traditional mediums including watercolor, gouache, pen&ink, oils, and painted & cut-paper collage. Her work draws from a deep wish to add more compassion and connection in the world through her art and stories. She founded @AWEtober on Instagram, an annual art auction fundraiser since ’20, whose efforts have raised tens of thousands for various organizations supporting victims of the California wildfires, and efforts in coral reef restoration around the globe. She lives with her family and two black cats, and is thrilled to be working on her debut picture book, DOWN, THROUGH, UP by Quill Tree Books, Winter ‘25. Please visit shirleyngbenitez.com for more.
