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Greg R. Fishbone is the author of The Penguins of Doom (Blooming Tree Press, 2007). Greg joined the SCBWI in 2001 and has served as Webmaster and Assistant Regional Coordinator for the three New England regions since. He also served as Class President for the Class of 2k7 group of 2007 debut middle-grade and young adult authors and the advisor to follow-up classes. Greg has published articles for the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market including an article on writing humor (2002), a tribute to Paula Danziger (2006), and a feature on collaborative marketing (2008).

John Bell is the author of Soap Science (Kids Can Press), a collection of very clean science experiments, as well as articles in AppleSeeds magazine and elsewhere. His short stories have appeared in such publications as the Highlights anthology The Identical Dolls and Oz-Story, and he won a Work-in-Progress Grant from the SCBWI in 2000 for a historical novel. John has worked as a book editor for over fifteen years, first in the trade division of Addison-Wesley and now as a freelancer. He’s thus learned more than hopeful authors should know about the slush pile, publishing contracts, copyright issues, book production, and marketing plans, and he tries to keep up with industry gossip. Living outside Boston, John enjoys historical research, sits on the board of the Friends of the Longfellow House, and has led teacher workshops at the Old South Meeting-House and the Paul Revere House. He’s unusually fond of Chinese dumplings, the Oz books, and sideburns.

Margo Lemieux is a professor at Lasell College in Newton, MA, with degrees in education and fine arts. Her published works include Full Worm Moon, The Fiddle Ribbon, Paul and the Wolf, and Wolf Moon. Her illustrated works include Lobsters & Crabs Oh My, I Like You to Make Jokes, Mean Words, and Zachary’s New Home. She has also worked as a book reviewer, freelance newspaper correspondent, graphic designer, and aerobics instructor.

Anna J. Boll is a children’s author/illustrator and middle grades educator. Anna’s writing credits include poetry in Babybug, Ladybug, Highlights for Children and Highlights High Five. She is the illustrator of Fufu and Fresh Strawberries for The Telling Room. Her illustrations have also appeared in advertisements in the on-line version of the New York Times, brochures for The West Bath Historical Society and The Pownal Land Trust, BJ Hickman’s Magic Shows, Magic, Fun & Games newspaper, and on a tote bag project for Books, Etc in Falmouth, Maine. Anna was a co-director of the 2008 and 2009 NESCBWI conferences and is an MFA candidate in the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has a degree in Political Science and American Sign Language from the University of Rochester and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Southern Maine. Link to more portfolio images, products, credits, and contact information at www.annajboll.com.

Sally Riley lives in Rhode Island with her kitty, Penny, and has been writing all her life (journals, Christmas letters, poems). But she had never consciously thought about writing books for children. Then, in 1999, a friend observed that she was less excited about teaching computer software programs than she had been. He asked her what she’d do if she weren’t teaching computers. Her answer came from somewhere in her subconscious, “I’d try to write a children’s book.” She decided to pursue that dream. In January 2001, she enrolled in Vermont College, and in January 2003, she received an MFA in “Writing for Children and Young Adults,” giving her life a whole new direction. She has received much encouragement from her two daughters and their husbands. And her writing is inspired by her two granddaughters. She first became involved with the SCBWI in 2001 and feels she receives much more than she gives — from conferences, retreats, workshops, networking with other writers, and especially from the critique group she found through the SCBWI.

Marilyn Salerno lives in a southwestern suburb of Boston, near the start of the Boston Marathon. She has thirty years of teaching experience in kindergarten, first and second grade, and has a M.A. in Social Studies. Marilyn became Massachusetts Regional Advisor in 1996. She soon assumed the Regional Coordinator position and assists three New England Regional Advisors in planning an annual conference, workshops and retreats, and a database for writers and illustrators who visit schools. She belongs to two SCBWI critique groups and enjoys being an active participant in both groups. Marilyn enjoys writing articles on science and social studies and has published magazine stories with Odyssey, Cobblestones, Family Earth, and Pass It Along. She recently sold her first piece of fiction to Hopscotch for Girls and is working on several picture books and Big Books. Marilyn’s husband is also a teacher and they have two sons, David and Michael. When Marilyn has free time, look for her on the tennis court, the ski slopes or jogging down the block. She is an avid gardener, an accomplished musician and an NCAA soccer official.