Lesléa Newman is the author of 75 books for readers of all ages including the poetry collections “Nobody’s Mother,” “October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard,” “Still Life with Buddy,” I Carry My Mother,” and “I Wish My Father.” She is also the author of many children’s books including “Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story,” “Ketzel: The Cat Who Composed,” “Here Is The World: A Year of Jewish Holidays,” and “Heather Has Two Mommies.” Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, the National Jewish Book Award, the Massachusetts Book Award, and the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award. From 2008 - 2010, she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA. Currently she teaches at Spalding University’s School of Creative and Professional Writing.