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Speakers - Author Extravaganza |
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- Author Extravaganza
- Extravaganza Speakers
Kimberly Willis Holt Keynote Speaker |
| Twenty three years ago Kimberly Willis Holt stopped talking about wanting to be a writer and started to pursue her dream. Because of her family's Louisiana roots she considers herself a southerner, but her father's military career took her to places beyond the South, including Paris and Guam. She's the author of more than fifteen books for a wide range of ages, many of which have won awards and honors. Her third novel, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She writes and gardens in Texas. "How was I to know all the places I'd called home would weave a tapestry into my heart and provide me a lifetime of stories?" Click here to read Kimberly's biography...as told through rooms. |
Annette Bay Pimentel Keynote Speaker |
| Annette Bay Pimentel grew up in Utah, California, Washington, and Illinois. As an adult she has lived all over the US as well as in Europe and Africa. She now lives in Idaho and writes nonfiction picture books about people from the margins of history who helped shape our world. Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans and Helped Cook Up the National Park Service won the 2017 Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Council of Social Studies. Read the author's autobiography as written here in her "Five Things about Me." WINNER - Arkansas Diamond Honor |
Kaci Bolls Breakout Speaker |
| Kaci Bolls (M.Ed) was recognized in 2021 as one of Metro Nashville TN's top elementary teachers of the year. She is a children’s music artist with multiple SiriusXM top 10 hits, including the #1 song “Dare to Be Me” co-written with Nathan Meckel ft. The Happy Racers. The song was featured in Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast, “Revisionist History.” Dare to be Me contains text and rhythm worthy of a song—this book will help children cultivate the courage to be their truest selves! Today’s a blank page, a plain white Tee Dare to Be Me gives children the courage to face the world as their truest, most fantastic and authentic, selves. With text and rhythm by Kaci Bolls & Nathan Meckel, and vibrant illustrations by Ana Martín Larrañaga, this start-your-day story will help readers brave the most essential part of every day: being yourself, and nobody else.
Prior to becoming a rock-star kindergarten teacher, Kaci spent over a decade working with country music's finest musicians and songwriters as a session and backup singer and songwriter. Kaci lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and their two bird dog brothers. |
Eli Cranor Breakout Speaker |  | Nationally-bestselling, Edgar Award-winning author Eli Cranor lives and writes from the banks of Lake Dardanelle where he is the "Writer in Residence" at Arkansas Tech University. He is the author of Don't Know Tough and Ozark Dogs, which were both named "Best Crime Novels" of the year by the New York Times, among others. Eli also pens a weekly column, "Where I'm Writing From" for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. |
Tyler Tarver Breakout Speaker |
| Tarver Academy is where Tyler delivers education in a fun, informative, and energetic way. He enjoys the opportunity to connect, share, and speak to educators all across the country. He presents courses and hosts many resources on his website on ChatGPT, classroom management, culture, math, Google, social media, and any other topics that might assist teaches in learning/school/education. Tyler's most recent accomplishment includes a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. He is, also, Google Certified Trainer, a Google Certified Innovator, and an Apple Distinguished Educator. |
