The Big Soap-rise

About Kimberly DertingShelli R. Johannes

Kimberly Derting is the author of the award-winning young adult The Body Finder series The Pledge trilogy and The Taking trilogy. She has also co-authored the new Loves Science picture book series with Shelli R. Johannes. Kimberlys debut The Body Finder was a 2011 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults a Kids IndieNext pick and was the 2011 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best for Teens selection. The Pledge was a 2013 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Her most recent YA novel The Taking was named top pick for page-to-screen by Studio System News. Her Loves Science picture book series has been named a B&N National Storytime selection an Amazon Best Book of the Month and received a starred review from School Library Journal. Her books have been translated into 15 languages. Kimberly lives in the Pacific Northwest where the gloomy weather is ideal for staying indoors to write. Shelli R. Johannes is coauthor of nine books in the Loves Science picture book series including Cece Loves Science as well as the author of Theo Thesaurus and Shine Like a Unicorn. Shelli never warmed up to creepy-crawly bugs but she always loved zoology and biology. In fact she can often be found on highways and country roads saving strays and other jaywalking critters or volunteering with animal conservation groups like the Atlanta Zoo the Dolphin Project and Bosleys puppy orphanage. After earning a masters in marketing and working in corporate America as an SVP Shelli traded out her heels and suits for flip-flops and jeans so she could follow her passion for writing. She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her own pack: a British husband two kids one bird one fish and two crazy-haired doodles who hate veggies. Kristen Humphrey grew up in a small town in southeastern Texas where she spent most of her days drawing and horseback riding. She has always shared her home with many different animals who have heavily influenced her artwork. Eventually she began taking on commissioned work which mostly included stylized pet and family portraits. While studying Visualization at Texas A&M University Kristen became interested in childrens book illustration and began using the skills and techniques she was learning to develop her own illustrative style. After graduating she continued taking private portrait commissions and bringing her own imaginings to life on a daily basis. She enjoys working both digitally and traditionally and sometimes combines the two. When she is not drawing Kristen enjoys dog walking hiking and horseback riding in her spare time