A big congratulations to the first KidLit Nation mentees: Cathy Ann Velasco, Gabriella Davis, and Suzannah Gonzalez!

Scroll down to meet the mentees. You can learn more about the mentorship program and the 2019 mentors here.

 Cathy Ann Velasco

Cathy will be mentored by author Matthew Kirby

Gabriella Davis

Gabriella will be mentored by Editor Russ Busse (Abrams Books for Young Readers)

Gabriele grew up on the outskirts of a small city in a racially and culturally diverse family. A voracious reader, she longed to see families like hers reflected in the books she read. She began writing her own books in the fourth grade, after her teacher gave her an A+ on the very first draft of a story called “The Little Teacup.” She has been writing ever since. Gabriele has a BA in English and an MA in magazine journalism. She has worked as a children’s magazine editor, a freelance language arts writer, and a writer of educational materials. She briefly worked in a bookstore where she spent most of her paychecks on books. Gabriele actively participates in SCBWI, 12×12, and numerous kidlit classes, workshops, and critique groups. She lives among the rolling hills of Northwestern Connecticut where she tutors, teaches yoga, rides her bike, spends time with her family, and writes books that inspire children to laugh, love, discover their inner strength, and feel embraced.

Suzannah Gonzalez

Suzannah will be mentored by author Barbara Binns

Suzannah Sebayan was born in Chicago, the only American-born child of her parents who emigrated from the Philippines. Her child’s birth and observation of the lack of Filipino voices in children’s literature inspired her to write stories featuring Filipina American characters and cultural experiences, the kind of stories she wished she had growing up. She worked as a journalist for more than 20 years at news organizations, including Reuters, the Austin American-Statesman and St. Petersburg Times. She holds degrees from the University of Chicago and University of Texas at Austin.