MEET THE AUTHOR
Melissa M. Williams', stories were inspired by her own experiences with unusual pets while growing up in Texas. During graduate school for Professional Counseling, Melissa began substitute teaching for elementary schools in order to understand the daily life of her audience, which encouraged her to include a realistic element in her writing. In 2008 her first children's chapter book, Iggy the Iguana, was published by LongTale Publishing, and later the sequel, Summer League, followed in 2009. Her readers' enthusiasm for the characters led her to create the spin off series, Turtle Town, which will be released in early spring 2011. Melissa spends the school year teaching character development classes and speaking to students across the U.S. about her own journey as an author, encouraging young writers to follow their dreams.
For more information visit Melissa’s website www.MelissaMwilliamsAuthor.com or visit the
Iggy Website at www.IggytheIguana.com
Iggy Website at www.IggytheIguana.com
MEET THE ILLUSTRATOR
Kelley Stengele’s passion for art developed at a very young age. She has literally been an artist for her entire life, as she credits her mother for such an amazing and inherited gift. Kelley grew up in Texas and later received her Bachelor’s of Fine Art from Texas State University with an emphasis in painting in 2005. Immediately following college, she started teaching art to young girls and also held art classes at children summer camps. In late 2006 Kelley moved to New York City to further pursue her art career. She now lives in Soho and paints murals and private commissions for other New Yorkers and patrons of the art. Working as the illustrator on Iggy the Iguana has been a wonderful experience for her. This is her first children’s book to illustrate, but definitely not her last! To view more of the artist's work, visit the Kelley Ryan Stengele gallery at http://kelleyryangallery.com.
