Currently LICWI is comprised of over one hundred published and unpublished authors and illustrators. Please scroll down to learn about each of our members!  Asterisk (*) denotes published members.

Amal is a  freelance illustrator and drawing teacher living on the wacky Island of Long and currently working on a masters of illustration through the Academy of Art, SF.  In her spare time (she's crackin' up), Amal runs a non profit organization called Artsac, providing art and school materials to an Afghan elementary school where they are working hard to figure out the speed of dark.


  Book Titles
                                           If I Were a Bird (Arabic)
                                                        My Magic World
                                                        Ali's Special Cure, 2010
                                                        Hetaliye, 2011

http://www.amalillustration.com/

 June H. Blair is an Illustrator and freelance Artist and Designer. She has been a member of LICWI since its earliest inception as East End Children's Writers & Illustrators and a long-time member of SCBWI.  Her presentations demonstrating the evolution of the children's book from sketch-to-print have been well received by audiences that range from preschool to adult. 


Book Titles
The Barnyard Cat
The Alley Cat
                                                Still A Family

Caroline Bock is a fiction writer, poet and screenwriter.  LIE, a young adult novel,  was published by St. Martin's Press in 2011 to much acclaim, including being called:  "Unusual and important," in a starred Kirkus Review.  She recently earned her MFA in Fiction from The City College of New York, and teaches there as an adjunct lecturer in the English department.  She lives on Long Island with her family.

Book Titles
                                                    LIE

http://www.carolinebock.com/

Yvonne Capitelli was born and raised on Long Island.  Her inspirational line of children's books shares heartwarming stories of making good choices, self-empowerment, confidence, determination and being thankful.  Yvonne hopes her uplifting messages encourage children to realize the amazing power they have within to create a life of happiness.

Book Titles
Daria Rose and The Day She Chose


www.dariarosebooks.com

L.P. Chase broke into the writing industry with her young middle  grade mystery series, Elliot Stone, but has gone on to publish
other works on fiction.  In between writing, Chase enjoys speaking to  children about being an author and presents programs to grades K though 6.   In addition to writing, Chase is pursuing a degree in Social Work.  In her  spare time, she enjoys spending time with her three children, exercising,  baking, and reading.  Chase resides with her family in Smithtown, New  York.

Book Titles
Elliot Stone Mystery Series
                                          Elliot Stone and the Mystery of the Sea Monster
                                          Silly Spoon
www.lpchasebooks.com

Deborah Cuneo is a freelance illustrator and an elementary school art teacher. Her finished work is mostly markers, colored pencils and acrylics, although she's always exploring new combinations of mediums with which she can create art. When Deborah is not illustrating, experimenting or teaching, she enjoys creating quilts, fiber art, photography, collecting art supplies and spending time with her family. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband, her three children, a dog named Archie and a cat named Sketch.



http://www.deborahcuneo.blogspot.com
 

Diana Ting Delosh is an illustrator/writer. She uses ink and watercolor to create her whimsical illustrations.  Her illustration credits include: Dover Publications, Harcourt Achieve, Scott Foresman, Inkwell, Ladybug Magazine. Her writing has been published by Highlights/High Five and Ladybug magazines. In 2008, she received the Highlights/High Five Pewter Plate Award for Puzzle Poem of the Year. Diana also received the 2001 SCBWI Magazine Merit Honor Award for Illustration.  She is a member of the SCBWI, CBIG and LICWI.


http://dianadelosh.com

Ginny Fox-Fey, a self-taught artist, was commissioned at age 15 for her first professional painting.  Her work consists of multiple mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography and digital.  Her work has been displayed in many forums on the East End of Long Island where she grew up. Ginny, when not painting, works as a nurse and is studying for her PhD in metaphysics.   She currently lives on the North Shore of LI with her husband, her dog, Teds Bear and her cat, Sebastian.

                                        Book Titles
                                                      The Island of Rouge

http://ginnyfoxfey.blogspot.com/

Joe Guida is well known on Long Island, NY as "The Singing School Bus Driver."  He performs his original music and stories at many schools and libraries.  One of his hobbies is gardening and he grows a variety of vegetables and flowers.  His moonflower plants inspired him to write his first book entitled The Legend of the Moonflower.   Joe currently has three children CD's and a Scool Bus Safety DVD. 

Book Titles
The Legend of the Moonflower 

 www.singingschoolbusdriver.com

Kathryn T. Hegeman earned her doctorate from Teacher's College, Columbia University.  For more than twenty-five years she has worked with children of all ability levels in the elementary grades and has designed and implemented programs for gifted and talented students.  She is the author of more than two dozen publications in the field of education. 

Book Titles

My First Book of Mind Your Manners: A Social Skills Guide for Children Mind Your Manners: A Social Skills
                                              Guide  for Children
 

Brian Heinz is a critically acclaimed author of children's books and an award-winning educator. He is also the founder of the Author/Illustrator events, an event that brings Long Island's finest authors and illustrators to their youngest fans. He also offers writing programs to school children and teachers. When Brian has a few relaxing moments, he builds historial model boats, and enjoys vacationing with his wife Judy.

Book Titles
                                            Nathan Of Yester Year and Michael Of Today
                                            Cheyenne Medicine Hat
                                           Red Fox At McCloskey's Farm

http://www.brianheinz.com

Karenann E. Knotoff began writing at the age of eight. By the time she was fifteen she had won several writing and poetry contests along with the honor of writing a play for her high school drama club. The play performed to two sold out nights. In 2007, her first children's book was published. Karenann is married with two children. She  is an accomplished flutest, loves to read, swim, ride her bike, crochet, needlepoint and spend time with her family.

Book Titles
                                        The Island of Rouge
                                        Stylus

http://www.karenanneknotoff.com

Sandy Lanton, a former teacher, earned a BA in Psychology and an MS in Early Childhood Education from Queens College.  When she isn't writing or visiting schools, she likes to  crochet, play bridge, and read, read, read.  

Book Titles
Daddy's Chair
Lots of Latkes
                                        Still A Family, A Young Child's Book About Divorce 2011

http://www.sandylanton.com

Erin Ley is an award winning author and presenter.  As the Host of the talk radio show titled, Onward And Upward, Erin is doing her best to raise the proverbial bar within the family structure. Erin holds a B.A. degree specializing in speech language pathology with a minor in psychology from Hofstra University and is a member of the Board for "Strength for Life", as well as a member of SCBWI. Erin, a cancer survivor, is a wife and mother of three young children. Her greatest goal is to bring light, hope and inspiration through her work and daily living to those young and old. 

                                     Book Titles
                                    Maggie the Magnificent Series
                                    The Will to Live: The Perks of Cancer Through the Eyes of a Survivor

http://www.erinley.com
http://www.maggiethemagnificent.com/

Margret Gay Malone is an author with an extensive background in public relations. She has published nine children's books and her lastest has been released in both English and English/Spanish editions.

Book Titles 
A Sweater for Duncan
Discovering Cultures: Italy 
                                                   Jazz Is the Word: the Biography of Wynton Marsalis

www.MargaretGayMalone.com

Susie is a Special Education Paraprofessional as well as a Pre-K assistant teacher.  She also works with a diabetic child that inspired her to write her first book.  She is married and has four children.  In her spare time, Susie enjoys reading, socializing, and of course, writing poetry and children stories.                                

                                Book Titles
                                           Harold - the Diabetic Horse of Course

Donna McNaughton is a former legal secretary living on Long Island, New York, with her husband and two daughters.  For many years, she has volunteered at church and school and currently works with preschoolers as part of a music and movement program called “Play Hooray" (formerly Musical Moppets) offered at public libraries throughout Long Island.  Learn Along With Lily is her first picture book.

 
                                Book Titles
                                            Learn Along with Lily



http://www.raindropbooks.com

Janice Milusich is a teacher of the visually impaired and has recently published her first picture book. She resides in Port Jefferson with her husband, three children, two dogs, one cat and one fish.


Book Titles
Off Go Their Engines, Off Go Their Lights

Orel Protopopescu is an award-winning children's author and poet whose book of translations, A Thousand Peaks, Poems from China (with Siyu Liu), was honored by the New York Public Library.  Since 1990, she has conducted fiction writing and poetry workshops in schools and libraries all over Long Island and (in 2009) in Paris, France. Orel lives in Miller Place, New York, with her husband, Serban.  They have two grown daughters.  A picture book she authored, Thelonious Mouse, will be published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2011.   

                                    Book Titles
                                                Two Sticks
                                                A Thousand Peaks
                                               Poems From China

http://www.orelprotopopescu.com/

Lisa A. Reiss writes middle grade fiction. Her first novel, The Curse of Amun-Ra, launched in January 2009. She has won honorable mention awards in various Writer's Digest contests and Pockets magazine's 2008 Fiction Short Story Contest. She lives in Selden with her husband, two children, two cats, and a dog named Cookie.

Book Titles
The Curse of Amun-Ra

http://www.lareiss.com

Rosemarie Riechel has a PhD in Library Science and has published seven library professional books and numerous articles on public library reference service. She is presently the librarian for the Long Island Parrot Society and writes the "Library Corner" column for the newsletter. She has recently published her first children's book.

Book Titles
Flight to Freedom: Two Parrot Stories
                                   A Rescue in Cyber Space
                                   Tina and Peter

www.rosemarieriechelbooks.com

RM Rivera has a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. She owned a decorative art and mural company, Gallagher Designs & Murals for twelve years. She's a member of the SCBWI and LICWI. Hal the Hampton Hound, written by Susan Abrahams and illustrated by RM Rivera was released Spring 2010.

Book Titles
Hal the Hampton Hound

Paul Rodriguez is the author/illustrator, dancer/choreographer, rapper, environmentalist, teaching artist type.  From New York to Louisiana, Paul has brought his books, music and programs to tens of thousands of children.  With themes ranging from anti-bullying to understanding children with autism to environmental awareness, his books help children build positive self-esteem while teaching them to think and be thoughtful of others.

                               Book Titles
                                           Star Spangle Sprinkes, Please!
                                            The Friendly Factory Frenzy
                                             Don't Do Drugs! Do Dance!

http://www.rodro.com

Addie holds a BA in Elementary Education and a Masters with Distinction in Secondary Education English.  She has been visiting schools and conducting classroom-writing workshops for over 25 years seeing over 10,000 children annually.  She loves family, friends and traveling.

Book Titles
                                        Alligators, Monsters & Cool School Poems
                                        Top Fin; Dolphin Dives
                                        Don’t Want To Go

Award winning poet and children's book author, Darren Sardelli,  makes poetry fun and exciting for everyone.  Darren has visited hundreds of  schools and libraries, showing students that poetry can be adventurous,  entertaining, and inspirational.  During a visit, Darren performs his  humorous poetry, shows students how to spice up their writing with humor,  creativity and imagination, talks about the wonderful things that can be done  with ideas, inspires students to think outside the box, and helps them realize  that anything is possible.

Book  Titles                                        
Galaxy Pizza and Meteor Pie
http://www.laughalotpoetry.com

Stephanie J. Shulman has a B.A. in Fine Arts and a M.S. in Elementary Education.  Stephanie is a school teacher who has been writing children’s stories and poetry as a creative outlet for many years. Her poetry was first published in "A Cascade of Memories- The National Library of Poetry". She looks forward to sharing her stories and inspiring her readers and listeners to laugh, smile, and connect through literature.  Stephanie lives on Long Island with her husband and two children.   

Book Titles
Monster Bash

http://www.lillianblanchebooks.com 

Rita Whitman Steingold is a writer and teacher of blind and visually impaired children. She presents Braille Workshops - Breaking the Code programs to children in classrooms and libraries. Rita's books are sold at all Author and Illustrator Night events.

Book Titles

Taking Visual Impairment to School
The Story of Pepper Parrot
                                            Katie the Purple Kangaroo and her Magical Kazoo

www.ritawhitmansteingold.com

When Cheryl's not running, swimming, biking, sailing, kayaking or hiking, she’s writing, painting and drawing.  With eleven illustrations published with SCBWI and an award-winning poem published in Cassandra, Spring 2010, her dream of publishing one of her own books hovers ever so close.  Currently Cheryl shares her stories and illustrations at Story Time with Cheryl, an interactive story time program for young adventurers. 



www.storytimewithcheryl.com

Sandy Wasserman is a teacher, author, wife, mother, and grandma and lives on Long Island, NY. She has taught for more than 30 years in both Public and Day Schools, working for the most part with Gifted children, who inspire many of her stories.  She's loved writing.   Sandy loves to swim, read, travel and explore unusual places.  In the future, she hopes to inspire children through other book projects she's working on.  She is a member of SCBWI, LICWI and the LI Association of Jewish Librarians.

Book Titles                                    
                                    The Sun's Special Blessing   

http://web.mac.com/sfwasserman/iWeb/Sandy_Wasserman_Author/Welcome.html

Penny has been illustrating for the children’s market since 2007. Her picture book, “One of Us” from Tilbury House Publishers was released in June of 2010 and her latest picture book “Amazingly Wonderful Things” published by Raven Tree Press will be released Spring 2011.  Penny has also illustrated “Growing Up With a Bucket Full of Happiness” from Nelson Publishing.  Her work will soon be seen in three books for Compass Media as well as one with Oxford University Press.Penny lives with her husband, three children, their cat and guinea pig in Holbrook, New York.  She is heavily lobbying for a puppy.

                              Book Titles
                                        The Curse of Amun-Ra

http://www.pennyweberart.com

Heather Worthington is excited about the publication of her first book. She lives on the North Fork with her husband, two children, Labrador Retriever and two cats. She has a B.A. in history, an M.S. in Special Education and certification in elementary education. She has worked as a Learning Disabilities Resource Room Teacher and journalist. She particularly enjoys writing children's stories that stem from her interests in history and nature.  

Book Titles
                                            Miles of Smiles: The Story of Roxey the Long Island Rail Road Dog

http://www.walkthedogbooks.com/

Michelle Zimmerman received a degree in Radio and Television from Kansas State University. She went on to complete her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Kansas. She's been helping families and their children with a variety of communication disorders for more than 15 years.  Michelle is currently spreading her wings and flying high.  She enjoys fluttering across Long Island presenting programs with the release of her first children's book.  

Book Titles
                                        Can't Catch a Butterfly

http://www.rainbowstarbooks.com

Joyce A. Zucker is a teacher, and professional musical storyteller a board and table game inventor. She creates educational interactive musical stories and songs. She gives workshops and programs for teachers and children (grades Pre-k to 4). She has presented and lectured at colleges, universities, elementary schools, libraries and museums.  She also had a column in Parent's Connections. Many of her songs and games have been published in different publications.

Book Titles
                                    Penny Paper Play Projects