Our Authors
Riley Carney
Seventeen-year-old Riley Carney creates magic in her exciting, five-book, middle-grade, fantasy series, The Reign of the Elements - an adventure story with memorable, vibrant characters, fast-paced action, and humor rooted in genuine adolescent emotion. Talented and inspiring, Riley writes stories that engage and ignite young imaginations. The first book in The Reign of the Elements series, The Fire Stone, was released in January
2010, the second book, The Water Stone,
was released in July 2010, and the third book, The Wind Stone will be released in February 2011. Riley is also passionate
about promoting global literacy through her children’s literacy nonprofit,
Breaking the Chain, which she founded when she was fourteen. She has won a number of local and national awards for her writing and her work with her nonprofit. Riley lives in Colorado with her family.
Shirley Stafford
Shirley Stafford has written a number of picture books which began as stories she told to her kindergarten students over the years and, now, to her grandchildren. Shirley has been a teacher for most of her adult life. She is a gifted storyteller and educator. Her debut children's book Sammy will be released April 2011. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and she lives in Colorado.