Our Team
EMMA WALTON HAMILTON
FOUNDER / FACULTY
Emma Walton Hamilton is a best-selling author, award-winning editor, stage and television producer, and writing coach. With her mother, actress/author Julie Andrews, Emma has co-authored over thirty children’s books, nine of which have been on the NY Times Bestseller list, including The Very Fairy Princess series. She teaches Children’s Literature for Stony Brook University’s Creative Writing MFA and is the co-host of the Julie’s Library Podcast. Emma’s first poetry collection, Door to Door, was published in fall 2022. Her latest picture books co-authored with her mother, The First Notes: The Story of Do Re Mi and The Enchanted Symphony are inspired by their love of the arts. Their newest collaboration, Waiting in the Wings, inspired by true story, is on bookshelves now.
JULIE HEDLUND
FOUNDER / FACULTY
Julie Hedlund is an award-winning picture book author and founder of the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge. Through 12 x 12, Julie has developed a true community of picture book creators. Since 2012, Julie’s writing challenge has encouraged thousands of picture book writers to get their stories out of their heads and onto the page. Julie is a frequent speaker at webinars, writing retreats, and conferences. Her picture book credits include Over, Bear! Under Where?, My Love For You is the Sun, and A Troop is a Group of Monkeys. Her picture book biography, Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews, won the Crystal Kite award from SCBWI and is available wherever books are sold.
KATIE DAVIS
FOUNDER / FACULTY
Katie Davis is an award-winning writer/illustrator whose published work includes kidlit genres from picture books to middle grade to young adult. Her first picture book, Who Hops? is still in print, and Kindergarten Rocks! has been a perennial favorite since 2005. Katie is the former Director of the Institute of Children’s Literature and Institute for Writers. She previously hosted two successful kidlit podcasts: Brain Burps About Books and Writing for Children. She has been honored to speak everywhere from a maximum security prison, to elementary schools, to universities, including UCONN and Yale. Her books have sold over a million copies and her two guides for writers, How To Promote Your Children’s Book and How to Write a Children’s Book, both debuted at #1 on Amazon.
KELLI PANIQUE
Producer/Host
Kelli is the backbone for everything at Picture Book Summit. She is involved with everything from the nuts and bolts of the website to responding to each email that we receive. Knower-of-All-The-Things, you’ll also find Kelli supporting other literary entities including the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge and Institute of Children’s Literature/Institute for Writers. When she’s not cheering on writers or managing a Facebook group, you’ll probably find her looking up movies on IMDB, scrapbooking, playing word games, or reading a book.
JON BARD
Founder Emeritus
Jon Bard is the co-owner (and half of the husband and wife team) of Children’s Book Insider, The Children’s Writing Monthly and WritingBlueprints.com. Before he teamed up with Laura, Jon owned a public relations company in New York, with numerous high-profile clients in the toy, game, and book industries. Jon is the creator of the Easy Author Marketing program on WritingBlueprints.com.
LAURA BACKES
FOUNDER EMERITUS
Laura Backes is publisher of Children’s Book Insider, The Children’s Writing Monthly, and co-owner of WritingBlueprints.com (along with husband Jon Bard). Laura has edited and critiqued thousands of picture book manuscripts. Her credits include Best Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read (Random House); articles for Writer’s Digest, The Writer and Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market; and technical editor of Writing Children’s Books for Dummies.
