Germ Hunter

Since her first novel for young readers appeared in 1991, Elaine Marie Alphin published 27 books for young people and one for adults (about writing for young people). Elaine wrote for readers of all ages, from Davy Crockett in Lerner’s History Makers series for beginning readers up through teenage mysteries such as Counterfeit Son, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult mystery. Elaine loved research, and that love impacted all of her writing, from biographies for middle grade readers like I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight: A Story About John Paul Jones in the Creative Minds series through young adult fiction such as the history-inspired mystery, The Perfect Shot to the stand-alone nonfiction young adult book An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank.

Elaine S. Verstraete creates art and illustration from her studio in Middlesex, New York. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University and currently teaches illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology. Elaine’s illustrations appear in numerous children’s books, including six titles with Lerner Publishing Group. Her work also appears on Wegmans brand product labels and numerous Rochester-area festival posters, including Rochester’s renowned Lilac Festvial.