A Very Merry, Muddy Christmas

Melanie J. LaPlaca is an author, educator, and former journalist. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Douglass College, Rutgers University, and earned a master's degree in journalism from Boston University. She spent eight years producing human-interest features on student-athletes before turning her focus to writing. Now she finds inspiration for stories from her most important role as a mom. She resides in New Jersey with her husband, three children, and their dog, Bucky. 

Laura Muncie is an author and illustrator from Scotland living in Germany. From a young age, Laura was creative and her childhood was filled with art projects ranging from sea glass wall murals to clay pot throwing. Creative fun gave way to a career in banking, but a change of pace in 2018 allowed Laura to revisit her creative side and she started training as a children’s illustrator. Laura’s first picture book What Love Can Do was launched at the Frankfurt Book Festival in 2021 and her artwork has been featured in the Bologna Artist Wall marketing material. A student at London Art College, Laura is represented by Maria Bogade at Wundergarden Agency.