Markette Sheppard

Markette Sheppard is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and children's book author. Her bestselling debut book, What Is Light?, inspired children to discover the light within through everyday surroundings. Markette is also founder of The GLOW Brands, LLC, a media company aimed at illuminating perspectives around the world. She earned a master of arts degree in interactive journalism from American University in Washington, DC, and a bachelor's in communications and French from California State University Dominguez Hills. Markette lives in Maryland with her husband and son.

Charly Palmer, a graduate of the American Academy of Art, is a nationally recognized fine artist whose work is in private and public collections, including those of McDonald's Corporation, the Coca-Cola Company, and Vanderbilt University. His illustrative work for Mama Africa! earned him the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator of the Year award. Palmer's art is inspired by his children and grandchildren. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.