Christy Yaros holds an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University, a BA in Creative Writing, and a Certificate in Copyediting from UCSD. She has 20+ years of experience in almost every aspect of publishing and recently became an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach.
As a lifelong learner, Christy continues to study and gain knowledge about the kidlit publishing industry. She takes professional development courses and attends multiple writing conferences and workshops every year. She studies both craft books and a wide range of kidlit, ever on the lookout for new wisdom.
Christy serves as a volunteer Assistant Regional Advisor for the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (NESCBWI) and is intimately connected to the kidlit community.
You can find out more at christyyaros.com.
Sharon Skinner holds a GPC, a BA in English, an MA in Creative Writing, a copyediting certificate from Writer’s Digest, and is a Certified Book Coach and freelance editor, whose goal is to help writers weave their words into stories that shine. She writes and coaches fantasy, science fiction and paranormal for audiences of all ages, including KidLit. Sharon is an experienced and sought-after workshop facilitator and presenter, who has taught/presented at the ASU Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, the SDSU Writers Conference, Tucson Festival of Books, and numerous Pop Culture Conventions throughout the US. Additionally, she served for three years as an Arizona State Library Writer in Residence (2017-2019).
Her Young Adult and Middle-Grade novels tend to explore complex relationships, particularly those between mothers and daughters. Her debut picture book, Rocket Shoes! (Sterling Children’s Books) is “a rhyming story for every kid who wants to fly—and wonders when it’s okay to break the rules.”
She is an active member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and serves as the volunteer Regional Advisor for SCBWI AZ.
Sharon is also a proud US Navy veteran, and one of the first women who served aboard a US Navy vessel, the USS Jason (AR-8).
You can find out more at bookcoachingbysharon.com and sharonskinner.com.
