Authors and Illustrators
Lisa Funari Willever, Author
Lisa Funari Willever wanted to be an author since she was in the third grade and often says if there was a Guest Young Author contest when she was a child, she would have submitted a story a day. Maybe two a day on weekends! She has been a wedding-dress-seller, a file clerk, a sock counter (really), a hostess, waitress, teacher, and author. While she loved teaching in Trenton, New Jersey, becoming an author has been one of the most exciting adventures of her life. She is a full-time mom and a night-time author who travels all over the world visiting schools. She has been to hundreds of schools in dozens of states, from California to South Dakota to South Carolina, and even the US Navy Base in Sasebo, Japan. Lisa has written several books for children and even a book for new teachers. Her critically acclaimed Chumpkin was selected as a favorite by First Lady Laura Bush and displayed at the White House, Everybody Moos At Cows was featured on the Rosie O’Donnell Show, and Garden State Adventure and 32 Dandelion Court have been on the prestigious New Jersey Battle of the Books List. In 2012 she appeared on the TLC hit show, The Cake Boss. Her other titles include There’s A Kid Under My Bed, A Glove of Their Own, You Can’t Walk A Fish, The Easter Chicken, Maximilian The Great, Where Do Snowmen Go?, The Culprit Was A Fly, Miracle on Theodore’s Street, Exciting Writing, On Your Mark, Get Set, Teach, Nicky Fifth for Hire, Nicky Fifth’s Passport to the Garden State, Nicky Fifth at the Jersey Shore, Nicky Fifth’s New Jersey, Nicky Fifth Says Vote for T-Bone, Nicky Fifth Explores The Great Outdoors, and Writing With Lisa Funari-Willever and Friends. Lisa is married to Todd Willever, a Captain in the Trenton Fire Department. They have three children, Jessica, Patrick, and Timothy. Although she will always treasure her thirty-four years in the city of Trenton, NJ, she is proud to now reside in beautiful Mansfield Township, NJ. She is a graduate of Trenton State College and loves nothing more than traveling with her family.
Lon Levin, Illustrator
Lon Levin is a former teacher at his alma mater, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA where he majored in Illustration. His illustrious career as an Entertainment Art Director has taken him from Executive Creative Director for Saban Entertainment where he helped launch the Power Rangers and X-Men television shows to Senior Designer at Friedland Jacobs Communications working on various high profile television shows like Jeopardy and Judge Judy to Senior Art Director for Warner Bros. Worldwide Marketing Services where he launched the Ellen Degeneres talk show and the syndicated launch of Will & Grace, West Wing and Two and a Half Men. In the world of Children’s Entertainment, he wrote and created the cartoon pilot My Pet Boy for KingWorld and Sony Entertainment. He also illustrated “The Small Potatoes Club”, written by internationally renowned, children’s book author, Harriet Zieffert. Most recently Lon illustrated 11 humorous outdoor books for Falcon Press and is currently working on a series book series called “Monster Boy” for Redline Press. Lon is the recipient of 7 Promax Awards for Advertising Excellence and numerous Illustration and Design awards from CA Magazine, How Magazine, American Graphic Design and Summit Awards. He lives in Hollywood California with his wife, Joanne and Golden Retriever, Sebastian.
Emma Overman, Illustrator
Emma received her BA from Hanover College in Indiana and completed a Post Baccalaureate Program at Maryland Institute College of Art. She now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana and is the illustrator for The Easter Chicken, Chumpkin, A Tale of Christmas, and Picken Petunia. Emma also visits schools and makes many appearances throughout the year. Visit emmaoverman.com.
Lisa Suhay, Author
Lisa is a journalist, having written for newspapers like The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Christian Science Monitor. She is the author of Tell Me A Story, Tell Me Another Story, Dream Catchers, Haddy The Doorstopasaurus, There Goes A Mermaid, and Our Fantasy Island. Lisa is married to Robert Suhay and they are the proud parents of four boys, Zoltan, Ian, Avery, and Quinn. Visit lisasuhay.com.
Lauren Lambiase, Illustrator
Lauren’s dream has always been to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a professional illustrator. She recently completed four years at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and is currently taking her first big step into the world of publishing. By the summer of 2008, her detailed and realistic oil paintings will fill the pages of her first illustrated children’s book, A Glove of Their Own. To view her work, visit laurenlambiase.com.
Gerri Willever, Author
Gerri is a retired teacher and safety expert and the author of Safe From Strangers and Safe and Secure Seniors. She received her BA and MA in Reading Education from Glassboro State College. She is the co-owner of the American Karate Institute and maintains the rank of Black Belt II. She has also been a student of Taiji and Qigong. She currently provides seminars for children, women, and seniors and working on her next book, Safe and Secure Seniors. Visit safefromstrangers.com.
Rebecca Matthias, Author, Entrepreneur
Rebecca Matthias is now the active president and C.O.O. of Mothers Work*, Inc., a $500 million dollar public company (Nasdaq: MWRK) that manufactures and sells maternity apparel through over 1,100 stores around the country and web business through apeainthepod.com, mimimaternity.com, motherhood.com and maternitymall.com. A graduate of MIT, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania, Matthias is a frequent speaker to small business and entrepreneurial audiences. Ms. Matthias is the author of MothersWork (Doubleday), a book about her experiences starting up a business, as well as 51 Secrets of Motherhood (Franklin Mason Press, April 2005). She is also a working mother of three and lives with her husband in Philadelphia.. Visit 51Secrets.motherhood.com.
Paula Funari Agabiti, Photographer
Paula Funari is an acclaimed photographer who works both commercially and as a freelancer. She has photographed the cover of several Franklin Mason Press titles and her photographs can be found in 51 Secrets of Motherhood (That Your Mother Never Told You). She currently resides in Hamilton, New Jersey with her husband, Michael and they are expecting their first child in Fall 2008. Visit paulaagabiti.com.
Chris Gash, Illustrator
Chris is a freelance illustrator and his drawings appear in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. Where Do Snowmen Go is his first book.
Elaine Poller, Illustrator
Elaine started drawing when she was three years old. She graduated from The College of New Jersey where she earned a BFA in Graphic Design with a minor in Illustration. Currently, she is a senior designer with a large children’s clothing manufacturer in New York City and resides in West Windsor New Jersey. She and husband, Bradley Poller are the proud parents of Rebecca. Elaine has illustrated Everybody Moos At Cows and You Can’t Walk A Fish.
Glenn Byrne, Illustrator
After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design in New York City, Glenn worked for several companies in new York’s famous Garment Center. Glenn is a native New Yorker who spends time rooting for the Yankees with his daughter, McKenna and wife, Michele. He has illustrated Everybody Moos At Cows and You Can’t Walk A Fish.
Adam Corsi, Illustrator
Adam is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and currently lives in Springfield with his wife Jennifer and their three children, Melanie, Hannah, and Elijah. Adam has illustrated three books, The Culprit Was A Fly, Miracle on Theodore’s Street, and Maximilian The Great.
Lorraine Funari, Author
Lorraine is a lifelong resident of Trenton, New Jersey and currently resides in Mansfield, New Jersey. She is the co-author of Maximilian The Great, The Easter Chicken, and Chumpkin. She is married to Reynold, a retired meat cutter, and they are the parents of three grown children, Lisa, Anthony, and Paula. They are also the proud grandparents of Jessica, Patrick, Timothy, Molly, and Maximus.
Debbie Moldovan, Author
Debbie was raised in New Hyde Park, New York. She attended Hofstra University where she earned a B.B.A. in Marketing and a M.S. in Elementary Education. She resides in Basking Ridge, New Jersey with her husband, Rob and their three children, Tyler, Austin and Cayla. She has taught first grade and computers and is currently teaching preschool in Basking Ridge while following her life long dream of writing children’s books. She is actively involved in her children’s schools, volunteers her time to support local athletic programs, as well as several charities which are of importance to her and her family. E-mails can be directed to DebbieLMoldovan@aol.com.
Keri Conkling, Author
Keri was raised in Pequannock, New Jersey where her passion for reading and writing led her to major in English while attending Montclair State University. After graduating, it was her passion for helping others which led her to a career in Human Resources. Keri is married to her childhood sweetheart, Bill, and resides in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. They share their life, love of family, passion for education, and volunteerism with their two children, Holly and Will.
Lisa Battinelli, Author
Lisa is a graduate of Trenton State College and Long Island University, where she received her Masters Degree in Reading. She is a lifelong resident of Bergen County, New Jersey and a former teacher. Lisa was named River Edge Teacher-of-the-Year in 1995-1996. Her husband, Pete, is a commodities broker and they are the proud parents of Grace Lesley and Ava Jane. On Your Mark, Get Set, Teach is her first book. and she is currently working on her next title.
