Authors & Illustrators

Fiona is a North Carolina native who specializes in comics, illustrations, and bridging the divide between the written word and visual imagery. Her work focuses on nature, emotions, queer experiences, social justice, and history both local and global, frequently embracing fantasy as a vehicle. When she isn't drawing, she is a historic reenactor and sword fighter, a gardener, a swing dancer, a TTRPG player, and the doting owner of a small black cat and a large brown dog.

Illustrator of Dance of the Faerie King

Emily Holi is a disabled PB/MG/YA author and short fiction writer whose work has appeared in Insider, McSweeney’s, and Door Is A Jar Magazine. 

A mom of six, she writes emotion-forward stories for young readers. Her short story “Buttons,” featured in the Bram Stoker–nominated anthology Mother Knows Best (Black Spot Books), received a shoutout in a Publishers Weekly starred review. DIVA is her debut picture book.

Author of DIVA

Cortney T. Key is a professional dancer, educator, and storyteller based in New York City. She has taught at world-renowned institutions including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Cortney believes that technique is only part of the journey; confidence, imagination, and cultural pride are just as important. 

Her love for storytelling began at home, listening to her mother tell bedtime stories. Through her writing, Cortney invites children to see themselves not only inside the story; but as its author.

Author of Brown Sugar Plum

Daphne Marcelle Lee, originally from Rahway, NJ, began her dance training at the Rahway Dance Theatre under the direction of her mother, Mrs. Jay Skeete-Lee. She graduated with Honors from the Alvin Ailey/Fordham BFA program in dance and currently holds an MFA from Hollins University. Her teaching and lecture credentials include Marymount, Rutgers, TCU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Kent State, and many more. From the Bahamas to Ghana, Lee has traveled the world teaching, adjudicating dance, and mentoring students. She has choreographed on the University of Alabama and at the Eleve School in Barbados. Lee has danced with and been featured on Hulu, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey II, Collage Dance Collective, Black Iris Project, among many artists including Beyonce and is currently in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway.

Author of The Dance Teacher's Daughter

From the first time I danced on stage in kindergarten, I knew I wanted to be a performer. I started playing guitar at 13 and began writing and performing my songs in clubs during my years at East Carolina University. 

  I’ve lived and performed  in many different cities in the eastern US and settled in Nashville TN in the late nineties where I fell in with a group of amazing, inspiring singer/songwriters. It was in this creative environment that I wrote the songs I’m most proud of!

Author of Midnight

Morgan is an artist and graphic designer from North Carolina. She originally earned a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, but knew that art was her passion and returned to school to complete her degree in Advertising and Graphic Design in 2022. Since completing her degree, she has worked with Girl Scouts of the USA as well as the international nonprofit, DKMS. In her spare time, Morgan loves to draw and paint subjects with as many colors as possible. She displays her original art as well as prints, greeting cards, and stickers at art shows throughout North Carolina. This is Morgan's first full length illustration project to be published and she is thrilled to bring all of her experiences together in this piece.

Illustrator of Alpaca Ballerinas

Illustrator of The Dance Teacher's Daughter

Illustrator of DIVA

Illustrator of Midnight

 Author of Dance of the Faerie King