Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning author. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren. Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her blogs and newsletters.

Richard Raum is a retired Presbyterian pastor who served churches in North Dakota, New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, and New York. He shared many of these stories at church on Christmas Eve. He is married to Elizabeth Raum, an author of over 100 books for children and adults. Her latest books include Storm Warning, a middle-grade novel, Constitution Q&A, a nonfiction book for kids ages 8-12, and the Choose Your Journey series, Bible-based interactive novels for readers ages 7-10.

Katy Klimczuk is a wife and mother to two living in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. She was a teacher, reading specialist, and book curator before beginning her journey as a homeschool teacher and children’s author. She loves books, watercolors, and Mackinac Island. Katy is an SCBWI member and hopes to bring joy and connection through her work. Follow along on Instagram @readingladykaty.

Kristin Wolden Nitz has celebrated Christmas, complete with poinsettias, in ten states and four countries. Two of her novels for kids are set in Italy.

Faith and joy are major themes in Ann-Margret Hovsepian’s life and she loves helping people find both. Her work reflects her passion for creativity as well as her commitment to truth. Whimsy and wisdom: Together they make for one seriously joyful life!

Ann-Margret has been writing professionally for over 25 years and illustrating coloring books since 2015. She has written hundreds of articles and is a bestselling author, co-author, or illustrator of multiple books. Ann-Margret’s newest book, The Joy of Working at Home, is a collaboration with three other freelance writers.

Mary Dodge Allen has won the 2022 Christian Indie Award from the Christian Indie Publisher's Association and two Royal Palm Literary Awards from the Florida Writer's Association. She is part of the blogging team for the Heroes, Heroines and History website. Mary and her husband live in Central Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the local police department. Her childhood in Minnesota sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She has worked as a Teacher, Counselor and Social Worker. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate. She is a member of the Florida Writer's Association, American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers.

Karen Mains happens to be one of those little white-haired ladies with a decades-long history in publishing and broadcast media. A communication specialist, Mains feels this ailing world is in desperate need of healing doses of wisdom, kindness, laughter, and unconditional love. Who better to deliver such gifts than little white-haired ladies?

Mains’ history in media communications includes: Twenty years as a co-host with her husband, Dr. David R. Mains, of The Chapel of the Air, a radio outreach that aired nationally on some 500 stations with an estimated listenership of 2 million per day, and the publication of over twenty books with a cumulative sales total of over 6 million copies.

Marion Westra, known by family as Grandma Daisy, went to be with the Lord December 21st, 2022. She celebrated 98 years of life. She has three sons and daughters-in-love, nine grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren! Her life of faith and persistence has been an inspiration to all who know her.

Amelia Hughey lives in Wisconsin with her family. She has a love for lake Michigan, and frequently walks the beach to find the materials she offers here. She’s a talented creator and owner at Walking on Light, a company which seeks to inspire everyone to share in the feeling of Walking on Light—moments of pure happiness. Visit her Etsy shop for inspiration and gifts.

Elizabeth Westra is a former middle school English teacher who left for ten years to teach writing for the Institute of Children's Literature. She has published more than 200 articles, short stories and poems in children's magazines. Her easy reader, Alexander and the Stallion, was published by Richard C. Owen, and "Why me, God?" appeared in the anthology, Encounters with God, by Standard Publishing. She also wrote pieces for Michigan and Nebraska's MEAP tests. She is a long time member of SCBWI-MI and a local writers' group. She loves reading, walking and photography.

Kathy McKinsey grew up on a pig farm in Missouri, and although she’s lived in cities for 40-something years, she still considers herself a farm girl. She’s been married to Murray for 34 years, and they have five adult children. Kathy had two careers before writing—stay-at-home-Mom and rehabilitation teacher for the blind.

She lives in Lakewood, Ohio, with her husband and their oldest son. Besides writing, she enjoys activities with her church, editing for other writers, braille drawing, crocheting, knitting, and playing with their rambunctious cat.

Marilyn Leach is a dyed-in-the-wool British enthusiast who lives lakeside near the Colorado foothills. She enjoys viewing and reading mysteries that originate across the pond. From the Scottish Boarders to Devon, city buzz to rural church bells, she enjoys excursions throughout the beautiful isle that inspire her writing. Her dear friends, who have become like family, live in Reading, England.

Jennifer Gradnigo is a licensed realtor with Blueberry Realtors | Keller Williams Harbortown, serving West Michigan. She's the founder of Home Girl Heroes - a 501(c)3 nonprofit bringing more community heroes to homeownership. She connects our frontline professionals with multiple resources to save them thousands of dollars in the home buying and selling process. Jennifer's passion to help others comes from her 20 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve, including a combat tour in Iraq. She lives on Sapphire Lake in Holland with her husband, precocious 11-year-old daughter, and golden retriever named Yellow.

Stephen J. Grabill, Ph.D., co-founder of Joy of Advent, is co-author and executive producer of the film series For the Life of the World, which has reached millions of viewers. He also has 20 years experience as a senior research theologian, author, speaker, and editor. He is currently Director of Moja University and a co-founder of the IT startup, Moja Market LLC. Moja is a multi-function super-app developed for MSMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Moja was purpose-built to serve and support African entrepreneurs, a massive underserved market.

Rebecca Grabill, co-founder of Joy of Advent, is an award-winning and internationally published author of children’s books and mama of six from toddler to young adult. She holds an MFA in Writing from Hamline University and a BA in Religion and Philosophy from Calvin University.

When not homeschooling the younger of her six children, shuttling older teens to activities, gathering eggs from her small flock of chickens, or writing, Rebecca guest lectures at Calvin University, teaches writing workshops at elementary and high schools, and photographs for Getty Images.