In Panel 8 of the 2024 RV Book Fair, titled “Creating Worlds for Young Minds: Authors and Illustrators Discuss the Magic of Children’s Books,” a dynamic group of speakers and moderators delved into the wonders of storytelling for young readers. Moderated by Pat Backley and Lucia Matuonto, the session featured Angie Maserati, Andra Gillum, and Andy Case. Angie, a versatile artist with a rich background in music, offered unique insights into the power of creativity across different art forms. Andra Gillum, known for her Doggy Drama series, shared her experiences of crafting humorous and heartwarming stories inspired by her own dogs and children. Meanwhile, illustrator Andy Case brought his vast experience in creating vibrant, engaging visuals to the table, emphasizing how illustration can fuel curiosity and learning in young readers. The panel highlighted the magic of combining words and images to create immersive worlds that inspire and entertain children, leaving a lasting impact on their imaginations.
Angie Maserati
Angie Maserati is a talented singer, songwriter, and recording artist known for her captivating performances in Pop, R&B, Rock, and Latin music. She offers her services as a duo, trio, or full band, delivering a diverse repertoire that includes classic hits and her original compositions. In 2022, Angie showcased her rising prominence by reaching the quarterfinals of “The Opening Act” competition at the Audacy show at Hollywood Bowl. Her 2018 album, *Love*, features collaborations with notable musicians like Peter Michael Escovedo, highlighting her dedication to quality music production.
Active on YouTube, Angie shares her musical journey and connects with fans. For booking inquiries and more information, visit her official website at angiemaserati.com.
Andra Gillum
Andra Gillum is the author of the Doggy Drama series of books featuring Doggy Drama, Puppy Drama, Old Doggy Drama, Lost Doggy Drama and Doghouse Drama. Andra is a dog lover! All of her books are about her real westies, Riley, Lucy and Rosy. Andra believes that books are reading should be fun, and book should make you laugh. Her stories reflect the silly “sibling rivalry” drama between her dogs. They also feature her real children, Max and Mia.
All the books in the Doggy Drama series are based on true (well, true-ish) stories of the dogs real adventures. A little extra mischief and humor are added in!
In her free-time, Andra loves to read and write and take the dogs for long walks. She also loves to Jazzercise with friends. Andra was inspired to write chldren’s books when her children were small. Each night, they could choose three books to read before bed. Of course, they always chose the longest one that they could find.
Andra loves to make school visits, and read and write with children! She also teaches a variety of writing classes to kids, adults and seniors. All of her classes are meant to be fun! Contact her at directly at andra@doggydrama.com to discuss school visits or teaching opportunities.
Find out more at www.doggydrama.com
Andy Case
Andy Case is an internationally published Children’s book illustrator and cartoonist. Andy has over 30 years experience working professionally in illustration and has been commissioned and distributed by book publishers, record labels and magazines in many different countries. His bright, colourful and detailed style engages young readers and learners and brings a story to life.
He is versed in working to the detailed specifications of a client brief and as such, is experienced and able to produce illustrations to professional standard with a fast turnaround and having experience of working with a variety of publishers has given Andy a clear understanding of the process involved in illustrating a book effectively on time.
In addition, Andy has 18 years inner city secondary school teaching experience, affording Andy a detailed insight into how creativity and illustration can accelerate wonder and curiosity, stimulating a child into becoming a learner. Find out more at www.andycaseillustration.com
Pat Backley
Pat Backley is an author based in Auckland, New Zealand, who emigrated from England in 2010. Passionate about people and travel, she has lived a colorful and interesting life, and her books reflect these passions. Her debut novel, “Daisy”, is a historical family saga spanning almost 100 years, from 1887 to 1974, set in Alabama, Harlem, and London. She has also written “Valentine George”, which follows the life of an ordinary man through extraordinary times, and “The Second Daisy”, focusing on life in 1980s London. In addition to her novels, Pat has authored memoirs and guides, including “From There To Here (With An Awful Lot In Between)” and “The Abandoned Wives Handbook: A Gentle Guide to One of Life’s Great Traumas”.
For more information, visit her official website at patbackley.com.
Lucia Matuonto
Lucia Matuonto is the creator and host of The Relatable Voice Podcast and Catch The Story! Podcast, as well as the founder and CEO of Relatable Media LLC. She is also the producer and chief editor of The Relatable Voice Magazine and The RV Book Fair. An award-winning author and entrepreneur, Lucia has published five books, including the beloved Zoe the Crab series and Out of The Box, A New World. Her latest book, Homegrown Superheroes, is set to be released soon.
In addition to her podcasting ventures, she hosts UNCUT with Lucia, where she spotlights unique voices and stories. Lucia’s passion for storytelling and connecting creatives shines through her work, making her a cherished figure in the literary and podcasting communities. Find out more at www.relatable-media.com