Spring Insitute
2012 Keynote Speakers
Chris Crutcher
Chris Crutcher, 65, is the author of fourteen books -- eleven novels, two short story collections and an autobiography. Prior to his work as an author, he taught school in Washington and California and acted as director of an Oakland alternative school for nearly a decade. That academic history coupled with 25 years as a child and family therapist specializing in abuse and neglect has infused his literary work with realism and emotional heft. His signature blend of tragedy and comedy have made him a favorite with teen and adult readers. He makes his home in Spokane, Washington. http://www.chriscrutcher.com
Eric Litwin
Mr. Eric (Eric Litwin): Eric is a guitar strumming, book writing, harmonica blowing, banjo picking, song singing, five time national award winning, folksy fun type of guy. He is a # 1 New York Times Best Selling author of "Pete the Cat, Rocking in My School Shoes" and “Pete the Cat, I Love my White Shoes”, published by Harper Collins. Mr. Eric is a popular performing artist focusing on participatory music and interactive literacy. He has played at Lincoln Center as well as schools and libraries across the country. Mr. Eric has recorded several award winning children’s music CDs. He is the co-creator of The Learning Groove which offers parent and child music classes. Mr. Eric likes cats, music, books and coffee. You can visit him online at http://www.ericlitwin.com
Donna Jo Napoli
Donna Jo Napoli moonlights from her job as a professor of linguistics at a Pennsylvania college to write books for children and young adults. Her stories range from magical retellings of ancient or medieval folktales, like Zel and The Magic Circle, to realistic, emotionally wrenching tales of kids confronting divorce and death in their family, such as The Bravest Thing. An essay on her career in the St. James Guide to Young Adult Writers commended Napoli's "belief in the ability of ordinary people to overcome and to survive." http://www.donnajonapoli.com
MLA Thumbs Up! Award Winner--Matthew Quick
Matthew Quick (aka Q) is the author of THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Sarah Crichton Books / Farrar, Straus & Giroux) and two young adult novels, SORTALIKE A ROCK STAR and BOY21 (both Little, Brown & Co.). His work received the 2009 PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention; was named an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award for Young Adult Fiction Finalist; and made the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2011 list. The Weinstein Company and David O. Russell are making THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK movie, starring Robert DeNiro, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence. Matthew lives in central Massachusetts with his wife, novelist Alicia Bessette.
Johnathan Rand
Johnathan Rand(Christopher Wright) Is a lifelong resident of Michigan. Born in Pontiac, he eventually settled in Topinabee, MI. He is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight. Almost all of Wright's books (save American Chillers) take place in his home state of Michigan. He has nearly 4 million books in print, and believes he is the only author in the world that has a store that sells only his books. Chillermania is located in Indian River, Michigan, just off I-75 exit 313. http://www.americanchillers.com
Gary Schmidt
Gary is an American children's writer of nonfiction books and young adult novels, including two Newbery Honor books, one of which was also a Printz Honor book. He lives on a farm in Alto, Michigan, with his wife and six children, where he splits wood, plants gardens, writes, feeds the wild cats that drop by and wishes that sometimes the sea breeze came that far inland. He is a Professor of English at Calvin College. http://www.hmhbooks.com/schmidt/
