AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR BIOS
Justine Danielle Del Monte -Author
Justine Danielle Del Monte, Author, is currently a freshman at the University of Washington. While at Athenian School, where she attended high school, she was given opportunities to travel everywhere from Bali to Peru, and even spent a semester abroad in South Africa. Within this past year she embarked on the "Athenian Wilderness Experience," a 26-day backpacking trip, and additionally worked on coral restoration while learning how to dive on the island of Bonaire. All of these trips gave her the ability to meet amazing people and to explore different parts of the world.
Beginning at age eleven, Justine authored "Drew's Dancing Drum," a rhythmic children's tale promoting messages of anti-bullying, and she continued Drew's adventures through navigating through hardships and friendships through "Drew Meets Boo" and "Drew and the Cyber Bully." Later, the shift focuses to animal advocacy in "Drew and Boo Adopt Lou and Sue," and later highlights the importance of accepting new people and environments in "Drew Moves." At age sixteen Justine authored her sixth book, "Drew Learns about Autism," and she is now working on promoting her seventh book, "Drew and Boo Love Nature, Too!". Her stories continue to educate young children and she aims to send positive messages regarding kindness and acceptance. She enjoys interacting with children and working to portray the struggles young people face through her words. What started as a simple literature assignment while attending Palmer School, in Walnut Creek, turned into a book series (with discussion points), free interactive Apps in English, Spanish, and Mandarin, and an animated short film. Justine and Brandon were interviewed by KVCR radio in San Bernardino, in 2014, 2016, and 2018 and also two television interviews. They were interviewed live at WABE Atlanta radio in 2015 and 2017. Both have been guest speakers for local schools, Girl Scout Troops and children organizations. Both have also been guest speakers at schools in Atlanta and Southern California. Justine is featured on Pacer.org, Students Taking Action Segment (Pacer is a National Bullying Center) and 86 Degrees and Story Monsters Inc. magazines. Justine is deeply honored that her simple stories are encouraging others to be kind and to treat others with respect. |
Brandon King Chappell -Illustrator
Brandon King Chappell,
is an award winning Illustrator, App Creator, and Director. His animated short films and Apps have won numerous awards. "Drew's Dancing Drum," the Animated Short Film was awarded first place in the North Bay Art & Film Festival in 2017 and Best Animation at the prestigious Christian Life International Film Festival in Ontario Canada in 2018. “Drew’s Dancing Drum” has been officially selected for upcoming film festivals in Vallejo and New York. Brandon's Apps have been downloaded in over 100 countries and continues to thrive internationally. Brandon and Justine have been keynote speakers and have been featured in magazines and newspapers and their interviews have been heard nationally through NPR radio interviews. His work on the animated short film, "SPOOF," won 1st Place for USA at the San Francisco Film Awards and several more Film Festival Awards including a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the highly esteemed Attic Film Festival. He has been a guest speaker alongside Justine Del Monte during two live radio shows at WABE, Atlanta and three radio interviews and two television interviews at KVCR in Southern California. Brandon and Justine have been invited guest speakers at local schools, Girl Scout Troops and Children Programs as well as numerous schools in Atlanta and Southern California. Six of Brandon’s stories have been animated by Public Broadcasting Services and are being shown nationally during their Children's Programming since 2014. Brandon and Justine were guest speakers at the Solano BookFest, in Vacaville, California where he explained how a simple story on paper transformed into an animated TV spot for public television and a 5-minute short. Brandon spends hours researching content and then sketches and paints colorful illustrations showing emotions that bring all of the characters to life making his books beloved and unforgettable. He has a "Best of Show," award for Graphic Design and is also continuing the next book in the Drew Book Series. His favorite quotes are: "People are more important than the project." -Brandon Chappell "If you can DREAM IT you can DO IT." -Walt Disney “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” -Thomas Edison "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." -African Proverb |