The Collectors

Dori Chaconas was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1938. The second child in a family of seven, Dori fell into the role of storyteller, nursery rhyme singer, and general entertainer for her siblings. She claims she learned about story pacing early. If the story action lagged, her fidgety audience would either scatter or start a poking war.

She has been married to Nick, her high school sweetheart, for 44 years. Everyone says the romance will last. They raised four daughters, and are now enjoying three grandsons—especially Grandpa, having been outnumbered by women all those years.

When their daughters were young, Dori wrote for them. She published three picture books and more than fifty stories in children's magazines. In the 70's, her interest turned to yarn embroidery design and she sold designs to major needlework companies and national magazines.

In 1997, Dori started writing stories again, partly to keep her grandsons from fidgeting or starting poking wars. Her stories reflect the warmth of family life. Dori gives credit to her parents for giving her a strong sense of family, and to her children and grandchildren for keeping it alive.

View titles by Dori Chaconas

In the past 30 years, Lisa McCue has illustrated more than 175 books for children. Her artwork also appears on fabrics, greeting cards, gift tins, wrapping papers, home décor, and clothing. When she isn’t drawing, she can be found on the water racing her sailboat, or in the mountains skiing. She loves to read, sew, and bead and is involved in fundraising for ALS. McCue was born in Brooklyn, NY, and now lives in Annapolis, Maryland. View titles by Lisa McCue