WENDY FROUD
Wendy Froud worked as sculptor and puppet builder for Jim Henson for many years, primarily on the films THE DARK CRYSTAL for which she sculpted “Jen” and “Kira”, LABYRINTH and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK for which she sculpted “Yoda”. Other work for Jim Henson included THE MUPPET SHOW and THE MUPPET MOVIE.

Wendy has also made puppets for use in television commercials. With author Terri Windling, she created three books illustrated by tableaus of her dolls, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S FAERIE TALE, THE WINTER CHILD and THE FAERIES OF SPRING COTTAGE. Wendy’s dolls and figures are highly sought after and are in many prestigious collections around the world.www.worldoffroud.com

HOLLY BLACK
Holly Black is the bestselling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children. Her first book, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, was published in 2002 by Simon & Schuster. Holly has since written two other books in the same universe, Valiant (2005), and the sequel to Tithe, Ironside (2007). Over the last 4 years, Holly collaborated with her long-time friend, Caldecott award winning artist, Tony DiTerlizzi, to create the bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles. The first two books, The Field Guide and The Seeing Stone were released together in 2003 by Simon & Schuster, with the next three, Lucinda's Secret (2003), The Ironwood Tree (2004) and The Wrath of Mulgarath (2004), following in rapid succession. The Wrath of Mulgarath climbed to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

The lavishly illustrated Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to The Fantastical World Around You (2005), The Notebook for Fantastical Observations (2005), and Care and Feeding of Sprites (2006) expanded the Spiderwick universe. Cureently, the Spiderwick Chronicles are being adapted into a film by Paramount Pictures in conjunction with Nickelodeon Films starring Freddie Highmore and Sarah Bolger with Mark Waters as the director Holly is currently working on a graphic novel series, The Good Neighbors, with Eisner nominated artist Ted Naifeh, and a new novel called The White Cat. More information is available at www.blackholly.com and spiderwick.com

Amy Brown

JEN DELYTH
Welsh artist Jen Delyth creates original Celtic paintings and illustrations which explore the language of myth and symbol inspired by Celtic Folklore and the Spirit within Nature. Her body of work spans an array of media including traditional egg tempera painting, oil painting, printmaking, textile design as well as computer illustration and multimedia animation. Limited Edition Giclées are made by the artist in her studio using archival materials and inks to produce Fine Art Museum quality prints.

Drawing from ancient metaphors and integrating the visual motifs and language of Celtic patterning into original new designs, Jen Delyth finds the symmetry of form and symbol that expresses living archetypes. Her work is stylistically contemporary, iconographic, reflecting spiritual and philosophical roots which embody universal themes that reflect her love of nature and Celtic symbolism.

Jen Delyth’s original Celtic artwork has been widely published and exhibited in North America, and back in her native Wales and in Europe. Recent work includes a series of Celtic Animations collaged with Celtic poetry and music available as “Beyond the Ninth Wave” interactive DVD. Jen's new book “Celtic Folk Soul” is a retrospective of her artwork and writing inspired by the of the last 20 years which will be published Spring 2008.

In addition to exhibiting her work at Faerieworlds this year, her ground-breaking video “Beyond the Ninth Wave” weaving Celtic Animation, film, poetry and art, will be featured during Wake the Dead ’s headlining main stage set. For more on her work visit www.kelticdesigns.com

JESSICA GALBRETH
Mythic fantasy artist Jessica Galbreth crafts her original works of art mostly with watercolors, pen and ink, but at times also utilizes an airbrush and acrylic for certain effects.

Jessica's work is available in numerous formats, from prints to greeting cards to calendars and books to collectible figurines and ceramics produced from leading manufacturers throughout the world. With distribution of her art and inspired products reaching as far as Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan, Jessica has truly become a world-renown artist.

She is perhaps most celebrated for her ability to capture the haunting and often mysterious beauty of goddesses and faeries from mythology. Each of her visions brought to life on paper have a personality of their own, and often evoke strong feelings in those who view them.

Some of her faeries are elegant, sweet and wistful, while others are defiant, dark and powerful. For more visit enchantedart.com

Neil and Alicen Geddes-Ward

PATRICIA MCKILLIP
Patricia A. McKillip is a bestselling American author of fantasy and science fiction novels, distinguished by lyrical, delicate prose and careful attention to detail and characterization. She is a past winner of the World Fantasy Award and Locus Award, and she lives in Oregon. Most of her recent novels have cover paintings by Kinuko Y. Craft.

"I write fantasy because it's there. I have no other excuse for sitting down for several hours a day indulging my imagination. Daydreaming. Thinking up imaginary people, impossible places. Imagination is the golden-eyed monster that never sleeps. It must be fed; it cannot be ignored. Making it tell the same tale over and over again makes it thin and whining; its scales begin to fall off; its fiery breath becomes a trickle of smoke. It is best fed by reality, an odd diet for something nonexistent; there are few details of daily life and its broad range of emotional context that can't be transformed into food for the imagination. It must be visited constantly, or else it begins to become restless and emit strange bellows at embarrassing moments; ignoring it only makes it grow larger and noisier. Content, it dreams awake, and spins the fabric of tales. There is really nothing to be done with such imagery except to use it: in writing, in art. Those who fear the imagination condemn it: something childish, they say, something monsterish, misbegotten. Not all of us dream awake. But those of us who do have no choice." - Patricia McKillip

Jayel Gibson