MEET THE CO-FOUNDERS
Julie Sternberg is the author of the best-selling LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE; its sequels LIKE BUG JUICE ON A BURGER and LIKE CARROT JUICE ON A CUPCAKE; THE TOP-SECRET DIARY OF CELIE VALENTINE middle-grade series; the middle-grade novel SUMMER OF STOLEN SECRETS; and the picture books BEDTIME AT BESSIE AND LIL’S and PUPPY, PUPPY, PUPPY. Her books have received many accolades, including: LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE is a Gryphon Award winner and a Texas Bluebonnet Award finalist; LIKE BUG JUICE ON A BURGER is a Gryphon Honor Book, a Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Nominee, and an Illinois Monarch Award Finalist; and LIKE CARROT JUICE ON A CUPCAKE was named An Amazon Best Book of 2014 for kids ages 6-8. The JUICE series as a whole has been named to the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books’ Stellar Series List.
Before becoming a writer, Julie worked as a public interest lawyer. She graduated from Princeton University with highest honors and holds a JD from Harvard Law School and an MFA in Creative Writing from the New School. Unlike Marcie, she has not yet left Brooklyn; and she has been known to hang up on Marcie when Marcie starts describing the breathtaking beauty of the San Diego libraries. Because Julie is not good at handling jealousy.
Marcie Colleen is a former classroom teacher turned children’s book author. Her books include THE SUPER HAPPY PARTY BEARS chapter book series with Macmillan/Imprint, as well as picture books THE ADVENTURE OF THE PENGUINAUT, to be published by Scholastic, and LOVE, TRIANGLE, which sold at auction in a two-book deal to Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins.
Marcie is an expert on creating highly acclaimed Teacher’s Guides that align picture books and middle grade novels with the Common Core and state mandated standards. She is the Education Consultant for Picture Book Month and the Curriculum Developer for Time Traveler Tours & Tales. She is a frequent presenter at conferences for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, as well as a faculty member for Kidlit Writing School. Her educational work in children’s literature has been recognized by School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and the Children’s Book Council.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education of English and Language Arts from Oswego State University and a master’s degree in Educational Theater from New York University.
Although she will always be a Brooklynite at heart, Marcie now lives in San Diego, California with her husband—LEGO artist Jonathan Lopes—and their mischievous sock monkey. www.thisismarciecolleen.com