I wrote The Coal Thief after hearing my father tell stories of his childhood growing up in Pennsylvania in the 1920s. It was a great way to honor his experiences and tell a story that children today can engage in and enjoy. In the story, Georgie wakes up to a freezing cold morning only to discover there’s no coal left to heat the kitchen. When his friend Harley shows up to take him on an adventure, Georgie discovers what it means to give back to others.

I was so fortunate after writing the story to find Lauren Gallegos to bring it to life with her beautiful illustrations. I discovered Lauren by searching through the directory of illustrators on the SCBWI website. I thought Lauren’s portfolio was beautiful and the fact that she was local to the area really drew me to her. Once we met and I saw her initial sketch of the cover, I knew Lauren would be the perfect illustrator for the project. There is something so magical about seeing your story come to life in pictures.

I am so proud of winning the IPPY Bronze Medal for Children’s Picture Book because it highlights how talented Lauren is, and what a heartwarming story The Coal Thief has proven to be. I look forward to working with Lauren on the sequel, The Egg Thief coming out in 2016.