Meet Our Picture Book Summit Founders

Emma Walton Hamilton

Julie Hedlund

Katie Davis

Emma Walton Hamilton is a best-selling author, award-winning editor, stage and television producer, and writing coach. With her mother, actress/author Julie Andrews, Emma has co-authored over 30 children’s books, nine of which have been on the NY Times Bestseller list, including The Very Fairy Princess series. She teaches for Stony Brook University’s Creative Writing MFA and her poetry collection, Door to Door, was published in 2022, along with The First Notes: The Story of Do Re Mi co-authored with her mother. Their most recent picture book collaborations include The Enchanted Symphony and Waiting in the Wings.

Julie Hedlund is an award-winning picture book author and founder of the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge. Through 12 x 12, Julie has developed a true community of picture book creators. Since 2012, Julie’s writing challenge has encouraged thousands of picture book writers to get their stories out of their heads and onto the page. Julie is a frequent speaker at webinars, writing retreats, and conferences. Her picture book credits include Over, Bear! Under Where?, My Love For You is the Sun, and A Troop is a Group of Monkeys. Her most recent picture book, Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews, won the Crystal Kite Award in 2024.

Katie Davis is an award-winning writer/illustrator whose published work includes kidlit genres from picture books to middle grade to young adult. Her first picture book, Who Hops? turns 26 this year, and Kindergarten Rocks! has been a perennial favorite since 2005. Katie is the former Director of the Institute of Children’s Literature and Institute for Writers. Her books have sold over a million copies and her two guides for writers, How To Promote Your Children’s Book and How to Write a Children’s Book, both debuted at #1 on Amazon.

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