Speakers

Carol, who grew up in Ferguson, was inspired to capture the story of the spirit of hundreds of volunteers who came together to bring hope to an  community in shock. In words and style conducive to attract the youth as well as the youthful, she hoped to strengthen the community that created artwork with the plywood on windows as canvases on block after block of boarded-up businesses to benefit artists, business owners and volunteers -- plus a community in need of peace. The book, created on "an act of faith," now is sold nationally and was the Missouri representative  at the National Book Festival of The Library of Congress on Sept. 6 in Washington, D.C. In May it received the 2015 Outstanding Book: Peacemaker of the Year award from Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Styling Wendy on her sister who has spina bifida, Angela is working on "Wendy on Wheels Moves On," the fifth book in the series. Now in high school, Wendy is a little older with new challenges. Like Wendy, Angela has expanded in the last five years into unexpected fields, including becoming a mom and contributor in the field of disabilities. In the last year she has moved all four books into electronic format, so now Wendy on Wheels books can be downloaded to iPads, tablets and Kindles. The new book's theme is perseverance and being open to ideas to accomplish what a person truly wants to do. To help fund this book, the author last month offered a Kickstarter campaign with rewards that included a donor's child becoming a character in the book.

Cynthia's second children's book continues the adventures of the Peanut Butter Kid, this time fulfilling his plan to celebrate his birthday in a way that would benefit other people. The author's Facebook page includes yummy ideas like party refreshments made with peanut butter. Cynthia believes the best time to learn about helping other people is when children are young, so she presents an enjoyable read, as well as a tool for discussion by adults and kids and an instrument to raise moneys for all charitable and nonprofit organizations. A cancer survivor herself, she shares a donation from every book sold with a nonprofit cancer group and/or other organization working to improve the health and well-being of children and adults. It is a 2015 MPC Communications Contest awardee!