Bios
A Glimpse Into the Author - Carla Smith Hardenbergh
I believe in children and their inherent goodness. It has been my life’s work and a daily privilege to work with young people. I continue to be passionate about providing opportunities that stretch and challenge growing minds in a loving way. This is after nearly 40 years of teaching children, including, among other activities, the distinct honor of teaching science at The Illinois National Guard Summer Youth Camp (grades 5-8) and now reading (as a volunteer) with kindergarten children in their school setting.
Over the years, I was a proud recipient of two Teacher of the Year awards, one for Soil and Water Conservation education and the other for Ag in the Classroom. I was also invited to help write curriculum for the National Math and Science Center (then located in Augusta, Georgia).
For most of my teaching career, I wrote stories with the intention of helping my youngest students learn to read. Most of these stories contain a page that repeats throughout the story which, in turn, helps children more easily learn particular words. As an added dimension, I designed the stories on “picture paper” so that the students could then illustrate the pages themselves, giving them ownership too. This method is consistently very successful and fun for all. It is a strategy that I have found helps children develop a love for reading and for the myriad adventures they can experience through books.
The Midwest has always been my home where my husband and I have proudly raised three sons. Now, in retirement, my passion has turned to indulging our wonderful grandchildren as well as continuing to write poems, prose and whimsical stories!
Bio: Jeff Gale
Illustrator
Jeff has been drawing fantasy dragons, creatures, animals, and people since the 1960s. He has a light hearted view of the world. His drawings depict a gentle universe of humor, innocence, peace, love, and friendship. Since he retired from teaching elementary and middle school Art, Jeff has continued to draw and has illustrated a number of alphabet and children’s books. If he's not on a long walk in the woods near his home you can still often find him in his studio or on his iPad doing something creative. Jeff lives with his wife, Peggy, in northern Illinois, near their daughter and her family. He thanks you from the bottom of his heart for your interest in his work.
Bio: Craig Carpenter
Illustrator
The illustrator of Memories Of My Kite, is Craig Carpenter. Craig first knew the book’s author, Carla Smith Hardenbergh, when they were high school classmates in DeKalb, Illinois. Fifty some years after their graduation Carla contacted Craig about doing the artwork for this children’s book idea she had developed during her teaching years.
Craig considers himself to be one of those self-taught artistic jacks-of-all-trades, master of none. Over the last fifty years he has seen his short fiction, articles, poetry, cartoons, and illustrations published in a variety of magazines. Over the last three decades he has received numerous regional awards in juried shows in northern Illinois for his watercolors and egg tempera paintings. His nostalgic, people filled landscapes and street scenes of the area around Oregon, Illinois are his favorite subjects. His original works are displayed on walls of dozens of homes in his hometown. He most enjoys working in the narrative painting style of his artistic heroes, the many Saturday Evening Post illustrators from the 1950’s, who have influenced him since his childhood. This is the second children’s book that Craig has contributed to.
Bio: Dave Stahler
Design/Layout/AI Illustrations
Dave freelanced for 40 years as an Industrial/Commercial Photographer, Designer and Layout artist for his business Champion Imaging Art.
Dave now lives full time in Florida. He has been photographing the "Forgotten Coast" of Florida for several years and has several photo books of the area published through Amazon.
Bio: Gloria Tyler
Illustrator
The illustrator of Color My World and Hey! Hey! The Gingerbread Man is Gloria Tyler
Gloria is a retired Art Teacher. She lives in Wyoming with her husband Tim.
Gloria’s first Art inspiration came from her older sister, Marie, when she sketched the “Heaven Scent” perfume logo in pastels on her bedroom wall. Soon, the young artist was drawing portraits of people on everything.
Typically, Gloria finds a great connection to Art through nature. She also finds a bond with God.
Gloria is mom to Megan, Aaron and Gretchen and grandma to her precious grandchildren. When not creating Art, Gloria is baking, hiking or watching her favorite Chicago teams: The Blackhawks, The White Sox, The Bears and Chicago Fire.
Gloria dedicates all of her illustrations of books to her grandchildren.
Bio: Reagan Taylor
Illustrator
Reagan (Rey), (Age 11), a sixth grade student, resides in Utah where she is loved by an older sister, two younger brothers, a mom and a dad, two miniature pet chickens and lots of plants. She has drawn daily since she held her first crayon. She is passionate about drawing and experimenting with different mediums. Drawing and painting is her expression of her heart and mind.
Bio: Meira Taylor
Illustrator
Meira is a fifteen year old from Utah with many passions including art, music, and theatre. She lives with her family of one younger sister, two little brothers, her mom and dad and an ever growing number of pets. She continues to grow her passion for creating art.
Bio: Lukas Byrum - Illustrator
Luke is a 20 year old graphic design major at Middle Tennessee State University. He has been drawing his whole life, learning early on from his dad. He also inherited his dad’s love of comics, inspiring him to spend lots of time drawing comic pieces and studying the works of various comic book artists (especially anything Batman). He has a twin brother, Zach, who shares his talent and love for drawing and comics. Luke aspires to share his talent with others, and to one day be a concept artist for films. Aside from art, Luke is a follower of Christ, runs track for MTSU with his brother Zach, and he loves his family, friends, and pets.