2012 Keynote Authors

Love, love, love this conference! Was really pleased with the key note speakers.
Public Librarian evaluation
Todd Mitchell
Headshot of Todd Mitchell

Todd Mitchell is the award-winning author of the young adult novel, The Secret to Lying (Candlewick Press, Colorado Book Award Winner), and the middle grade novel, The Traitor King (Scholastic Press). He’s also a writer for the graphic novel, A Flight of Angels(Vertigo, November 2011). In addition to his books, he’s published several short stories, essays, and poems in national and international journals. Currently, he serves as the Director of the Beginning Creative Writing Teaching Program at Colorado State University. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife, dog, and two wily daughters. You can visit him at www.ToddMitchellBooks.com.

Maggie Stiefvater
Headshot of Maggie Stiefvater

All of my life decisions have been based around my inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which I've tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists, musicians, and artists (I've made my living as one of these since I was 22).

I now live an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia, with my charmingly straight-laced husband, two small kids, two neurotic dogs who fart recreationally, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

I'm an avid reader, an award-winning colored pencil artist, and play several musical instruments, including the Celtic harp, the piano, and the bagpipes.