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Frances O’Roark Dowell has created wonderful characters who touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. Infotech suggests that “Dowell has created a must have instant classic with Phineas L. MacGuire .......Erupts!.” This was preceded by equally as popular titles: Chiken Boy; The Secret Language of Girls; Where I'd Like to Be, and Dovey Coe. Dowell’s newest offering, Phineas L. MacGuire...Gets Slimed! will make its debut at this year's NC Experience.

James Ransome's inspiring illustrations are familiar to children, teachers and media specialists across the country. A native of Rich Square, Ransome has received both the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration and the IBBY Honor Award . He also received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration for Uncle Jed’s Barbershop which was selected as an ALA Notable Book and is currently being shown as a feature on Reading Rainbow. The Children’s Book Council named James E. Ransome as one of seventy-five authors and illustrators everyone should know.

Carole Marsh is the founder of Gallopade International, an award-winning publisher of more than 15,000 educational products for children and adults.The Carole Marsh Mysteries series, a 2004 Teacher’s Choice Family Award winner, includes three titles set in North Carolina. Accelerated Reader quizes are now available on all three.

Donna Campbell Smith returns to our event with new editions of two popular favorites, Pale as the Moon and An Independent Spirit. Donna’s interest in horses goes way beyond their role in historical fiction. She is a riding instructor, breeder and trainer. Just released in 2007 is The Book of Draft Horses: The Horse That Built the World. The Book of Miniature Horses (2005) is a fascinating look at a little known breed.

Eleanora Tate, author and storyteller, brings an authentic African American perspective to her fiction for middle grade readers. Her new book Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance, set in both Raleigh, NC and Harlem, has received excellent reviews. The Secret of Gumbo Grove, Thank You, Dr, Martin Luther King, and A Blessing in Disguise are also set in the Carolinas. She is also the author of an American Girl History/ Mystery, The Minstrel’s Melody. African American Musicians is a popular non-fiction selection. Front Porch Stories at the One Room School was a NC Children’s Book Award Nominee.

Bruce Roberts & Cheryl Shelton Roberts, photographer/ author, have created a wonderful book, North Carolina Lighthouses, that will be a popular addition to everyone’s library. The Roberts have been instrumental in preserving and promoting North Carolina Lighthouses through the North Carolina Lighthouse Society. Their other publications include Lighthouse Families, Southeastern Lighthouses, amd 4 titles found in the NC Coastal Lights packet.

Janie Bird recently published Freddy in North Carolina: Historic Sites. Sure to be a favorite with young people, it is a brief and simple history of North Carolina written in Spanish and English. Her previously published title Freddy in the City: Memorable Monday, also written in Spanish and Englishis used by the Charlotte Mechlenburg schools as a supplemeentary reader in LEP classes.

Writers and Illustrators of North Carolina (WINC) panel discussion:
Consie Powell, writer and illustrator, has two new titles of particular interest to North Carolinians: A Day in the Salt Marsh and Baby Bear Isn’t Hungry. A Bold Carnivore: An Alphabet of Predators has recently been republished which should please manay of you who have requested this title. Her other books include First Day of Winter, Amazing Apples, and Who Lives in the Snow? We are hoping Wolfsong will be released in time for the Experience. Elizabeth McDavid Jones has written seven books for ages nine and up. Her new book Peril at King’s Creek is a Felicity Mystery in the popular American Girl series. Also available is the popular Night Flyers, set in North Carolina, and other exciting history/ myteries. Eileen Heyes writes highly praised non-fiction and delightful, popular fiction for middle grade readers. Critics called her Tobacco U.S.A. a balanced overview of the tobacco industry. O’Dwyer & Grady Starring in Acting Innocent and O’Dwyer & Grady Starring in Tough Act to Follow received rave reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.

Karen Lee, author and illustrator, creates delightful non-fiction. New titles include ABC Safari and My Even Day which is a complement to the popular One Odd Day released last year. Karen’s whimsical illustrations have also appeared on the cover of Highlights magazine.

Julia Taylor Ebel's writing reflects her appreciation of family stories and cultural history and her love of nature. She has recently published Orville Hicks: Mountain Stories Mountain Roots. She is also the author of the picture book Walking Ribbon set in Liberty, North Carolina in 1898. Another favorite, Addie Clawson, Appalachian Mail Carrier, has recently received national attention from the U.S. Postal Service.

Jack Fryar is a life-long resident of southeastern North Carolina, born and raised in Wilmington. He has been a professional writer and publisher since 1994. In 2000, he founded Dram Tree Books, a small publishing house whose titles tell the story of coastal North Carolina’s vivid and exciting history. He is the author of A History Lover’s Guide to Wilmington & The Lower Cape Fear. The Battles for Fort Fisher and “King George and Broadswords!” The Battle at Widow Moores Creek, are offerings in the Young Reader’s Series of North Carolina History.

Lynn Salsi, a former classroom teacher and children’s theater director, combines North Carolina culture, folklore and history in her plays and stories. Her recent book Young Ray Hicks Learns the Jack Tales is a blend of historical fiction, Jack tales, and the storytelling tradition. A sequel, The Old Jack Tales, Hicks Family Stories is scheduled to debut at this year’s NC Experience. The North Carolina Imagination Box will stimulate the reading, writing, and performing skills of even the most reluctant students. James (Jim) Young, who illustrates the two Jack Tales books by Salsi, will draw and perform musical accompaniment while Lynn Salsi tells Jack tales and describes the origin of the stories. However, Young has written and illustrated numerous stories for Scholastic including Puppies in the Snow and The Cows Are in the Corn which will also be available.

John Golden, storyteller and balladeer, writes and performs North Carolina colonial songs, sea songs and stories many of which can be heard on his five recorded CD’s. John was awarded Storyteller of the Year for North Carolina in 2003 by the North Carolina Storytelling Guild.

Terrance Zepke, draws a crowd whenever she appears usually in costume with her tales of Carolina ghosts, pirates, and lighthouses. Her books include the 2005 publication, Ghosts & Legends of the Carolina Coasts, plus The Best Ghost Tales of North Carolina(2nd edition), Ghosts of the Carolina Coasts, Lighthouses of the Carolinas, Coastal North Carolina, Its Enchanting Islands and Pirates of the Carolinas (2nd edition).

Phyllis Goldman’s new book North Carolina Native American Folklore and Legends will thrill those of you who have been looking for easy to read, well researched desriptions of the state’s nine recognized Native American tribes. Also highly recommended are other new titles in her North Carolina series: North Carolina’s Adventures, Mysteries, Legends, and Ghost Stories; North Carolina’s Mountains, Piedmont and Coastal Plain in Spanish and English; North Carolina African American History and Culture; and her latest North Carolina’s Economy, Industry and Culture.

Stephanie Greene is the author of more than fifteen books for children including early readers, chapter books and middle grade novels. No elementary school library is complete without the antics of Owen Foote who appears in six different titles. Her spring 2005 publication Queen Sophie Hartley received excellent reviews. Moose’s Big Idea,in a series of Moose and Hildy chapter books, is a hilarious story about a moose and his loyal friend. Greene’s other titles include Falling Into Place and Show and Tell. We have our fingerscrossed that her new book Christmas at Stoney Creek will be shipped in time for the Experience.

Kelly Starling Lyons returns to the NC Experience with a new book One Million Men and Me, a cild's-telling of the million-man march on Washington. Her previous title NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal is an excellent choice for character education.

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