Open Book Players

Our last author(s) and illustrator whose book will be performed in part at our Reading Rumpus event on September 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson Hall Opera House will be featured on Wednesday, Sept. 4th…look for it!!!

Time to meet our fifth author and illustrators whose two books we will be performing on September 22nd at 2:00 p.m. in Johnson Hall Opera House, Gardiner…
ALEXANDRA S.D. HINRICHS
Alexandra resides twenty miles inland from the coast of Maine, where she often finds her way to Acadia National Park. She loves to hike and kayak and feels most herself when she’s surrounded by trees. Alexandra is a middle school librarian. She has also worked as a historical researcher, a youth services librarian, and an academic librarian. Her picture books include “The Lobster Lady”, “Therese Makes a Tapestry”, “The Pocket Book”, and “The Traveling Camera: Lewis Hine and the Fight to End Child Labor”. Alexandra lives in Bangor, Maine, with her spouse and their three sons.

VIVIAN MINEKER
Vivian has always used art to express herself and to re-create her vivid imaginary world. She is often inspired by nature, especially when observing its varied and constantly changing forms. Vivian is the illustrator of several books for children, including “The Yeti and the Jolly Lama: A Tale of Friendship” and “What a Ship Sees”. Vivian is a Taiwanese American from Taipei and Portland, Oregon, currently living and working in Amsterdam, with her golden doodle, Darlie.

JAMIE HOGAN
Jamie is an award-winning illustrator, writer, and educator, often inspired by her seaside life on Peaks Island, Maine. She is the illustrator of several children’s books, including “Lobster Graveyard” and “John Muir Wrestles a Waterfall”. She is also the author and illustrator of “Skywatcher”. Jamie lives with her husband and daughter and feels grateful to experience the raw beauty of Maine each and every day.

Our fifth author and illustrators will be featured on Thursday…look for it! Remember the date: September 22nd, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner, ME.

It is time to meet our fourth author/illustrator whose book, “Skywatcher”, will be performed at our Reading Rumpus event on September 22nd, 2:00 p.m. at Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner, Me…JAMIE HOGAN
Jamie Hogan is an illustrator, educator, and biker living three miles at sea in Casco Bay, Maine. She has illustrated a dozen children’s books including “Rickshaw Girl” (2008), a Jane Addams Peace Association Honoree and a New York Public Library selection as one of the 100 Best Children’s Books of the Past 100 Years. She taught at the Maine College of Art for fifteen years. (Hint: She has also illustrated another author’s book that will be featured next!)

Meet our third author and illustrators whose two books will be performed on September 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson Hall Opera House, Gardiner, Maine…ELISA BOXER, AMY JUNE BATES, AND MARTA ALVAREZ MIGUENS

Elisa Boxer is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist whose work has been featured in publications including The New York Times and Fast Company. She has a passion for writing stories about unsung heroes who harness their courage in barrier-breaking ways. Elisa is the author of numerous children’s books including The Voice That Won the Vote, A Seat at the Table, One Turtle’s Last Straw (which won the Maine Chickadee Award), Tree of Life, and Hidden Hope, which won the Sydney Taylor Silver Medal, the Maine Literary Award for Best Children’s Book, and earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and School Library Journal. Elisa has many more books on the way, including an anthology of female spies throughout history. Elisa lives with her family in Maine.

Amy June Bates’ books have received multiple starred reviews and accolades, such as the National Jewish Book Award, the Sydney Taylor Award, a Sydney Taylor Honor, and the Christopher Award. Her many books include: The Box and the Sea, Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story, and The Dog Who Belonged to No One. She lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Marta Alvarez Miguens is the award-winning illustrator of Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist. She lives in A Coruna, Spain.

You will meet our next Reading Rumpus author and illustrators on Friday, August 16th…look for it!!!

Meet our second author whose book, “Trucker Kid” will be performed by Open Book Players for the Reading Rumpus event on September 22nd, 2:00 p.m. at Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner…CAROL GORDON EKSTER and illustrator RUSS COX

Carol Gordon Ekster was a passionate fourth-grade teacher for 35 years and started writing picture books near the end of that career. She loved having students respond to her stories and share in her journey to becoming an author. Carol loves biking, yoga, and playing with her grandson when she is not writing. She has never ridden in a truck but hopes to one day.

Russ Cox was raised by hillbillies in the backwoods of Tennessee. Without many modern conveniences, like a television or running water, he spent his time drawing, whittling, and throwing dirt clods at his cousins. With the bulk of his life spent in Pennsylvania, he met his wife; became a graphic designer; played in punk, alternative, and surf bands; had two kids; and started his own illustration studio, Smiling Otis Studio. Russ creates his art digitally and traditionally. He lives in Maine with his wife and three cats.

Our second author & illustrator whose children’s book will be performed by Open Book Players will be featured in our next post by August 10th…look for it!

Meet our first author whose book, “Sparrow Being Sparrow” will be performed in part by Open Book Players for the Reading Rumpus event on September 22nd, 2:00 p.m. at Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner…GAIL DONOVAN
Gail Donovan was fired from her first job in an ice cream shop for making the sundaes too big. She now works in a library and writes middle grade novels, including Sparrow Being Sparrow, a Junior Library Guild Selection; Finchosaurus, a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award winner; and In Memory of Gorfman T. Frog, named to the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list. She has also written for the Rainbow Fish & Friends picture book series based on the bestselling work of Marcus Pfister. Donovan lives on the coast of Maine, where she jumps in the ocean all year round. She has shared her home with a dozen birds, a few dogs, a rat, and a cat named Cookie. Visit her at GailDonovan.com.

And Illustrator…ELYSIA CASE
Elysia Case is an illustrator from the Finger Lakes region of New York. When she’s not making things, she can be found spoiling her pets with too many treats and annoying them with too many kisses.

COMING SOON…MEET THE AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS AND THEIR WORKS BEING FEATURED IN OUR READING RUMPUS EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 22ND AT 2:00 P.M., Johnson Hall Opera House, GARDINER, ME.

OUR FIRST AUTHOR WILL BE INTRODUCED ON AUGUST 4TH!