Gary D. Schmidt is the bestselling author of
The Labors of Hercules Beal;
Just Like That; National Book Award finalist
Okay for Now;
Pay Attention, Carter Jones;
Orbiting Jupiter; the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor Book
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; and the Newbery Honor Book
The Wednesday Wars. He is also a contributor to and coeditor, with Leah Henderson, of the acclaimed short story collection
A Little Bit Super. He lives in rural Michigan.
David Diaz has illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, including Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, for which he was awarded the Caldecott Medal; The Wanderer by Sharon Creech, which received a Newbery Honor; and Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, a Pura Belpré Honor Award winner. An illustrator and graphic designer for more than twenty-five years, he is also a painter and an accomplished ceramic artist. Mr. Diaz lives in Carlsbad, California.