Who’s invited?

Mitali Perkins was born in Kolkata, India, and grew up across the globe before settling in California. A lifelong lover of story, she writes award-winning books for young readers that explore identity, justice, and belonging across cultures. Mitali has taught at every level from middle school to college and is the author of both fiction and nonfiction, including Steeped in Stories and Just Making. She speaks widely on the power of story to bridge divides and bring healing.

Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent some years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age seven with his family. He has had a long career in publishing, first as a literary agent, then an editor and publisher for houses such as HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Macmillan. During that time he edited books in every category, from memoir, cookbooks, board books, picture books, literary fiction, how-to, novelty, and more. He is the author of several books, including Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award, and The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newbery Honor. He lives in the U.S. with his wife and son.

Gary Schmidt is an award-winning children’s book author. He received a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor for his young adult novel Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, as well as a Newbery Honor for The Wednesday Wars. More recently, his books include The Labors of Hercules Beal and Jupiter Rising. In addition to his accomplished authoring, Schmidt is a Professor of English at Calvin College in Michigan.

S. D. Smith is the author of The Green Ember Series, a million+ selling adventure saga featuring heroic #RabbitsWithSwords. The Green Ember spent time as the number one bestselling audiobook in the world on Audible. He is also the author of the madcap Mooses with Bazookas: And Other Stories Children Should Never Read as well as the touching throwback adventure, The Found Boys. Finally, he has co-authored two fantasy adventure novels with his son (J. C. Smith), Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key and Jack Zulu and the Girl with Golden Wings. Smith’s stories are captivating readers across the globe who are hungry for “new stories with an old soul.”

Alexandra Davis has been a lifelong lover of children’s books, earning her degree in Children’s Literature from NYU with additional studies in illustration and design at the School of Visual Arts. She began her career interning at Puffin Books before joining the marketing team at New York’s iconic bookstore Books of Wonder, where she wrote the beloved quarterly catalogue. Now a writer, teacher, and homeschooling mom, Alexandra delights in sharing little-known stories of faith, hope, and love with families and young readers everywhere. She is also the author of Lumber Jills: The Unsung Heroes of World War II, published by Albert Whitman.

Melina Luna Smith is the founder of StoryMakers NYC, a clergy wife, and a mother of two teens. Drawing on her background in Social Work and Child Development and her eye for design, she imagined a fresh approach to engaging children through the imagination. With the trademark commitment to whimsy and beauty, Mel envisioned bringing the Bible to life through a creative approach. Eventually, with her team of writers, artists, and jacks-of-all-trades, Melina founded StoryMakers, a non-profit creative studio that produces imaginative gospel resources to foster connection and more fun for Sunday school programs and families.

Amanda Held Opelt is a songwriter, speaker, and author of several books, including A Hole in the World, Holy Unhappiness, and the forthcoming Provisions (October 2026). She writes about faith, grief, community, and life in Southern Appalachia. She serves on the teaching and worship teams at her local church and is currently a student at Appalachian State University where her studies focus on Appalachian culture and history. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters.