Join our PH community as we welcome writer, actress, and Sycamore parent, Lina Patel.

Lina Patel is a playwright whose work investigates politics, family structures, and relationships in a precarious world. Her near-future play, The Ragged Claws, was nominated for Cherry Lane Theater’s Mentor Project. Select other plays include, Sankalpan (Desire), an adaptation of Chekhov’s "Three Sisters" recently part of RADAFest, London; Bonobos, a darkly comedic telenovela for the stage exploring female loyalty and friendship, presented by Artists At Play. Lina got her start as a critically acclaimed theater and voice-over actor. On television, Lina most recently wrote for DC's "Krypton.”

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Join us as we welcome Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, a professional hiker, writer, and author, who was called “a living legend” and “the Queen of Urban Hiking” by Outside Magazine.

Liz Thomas is a professional hiker, adventure conservationist, and outdoor writer who broke the women’s self-supported speed record on the 2,181-mile long Appalachian Trail. Considered among the most experienced hikers in the US, she’s known for backpacking light, fast, and solo. Liz has hiked more than 20,000 miles on 20+ long trails including completing the Triple Crown of Hiking (the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails) and first-known traverses of the Chinook Trail in the Columbia River Gorge and Wasatch Range in Utah.

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Join our PH community as we welcome children’s book author, illustrator, and former Sycamore parent, Naomi Howland.

Naomi Howland is an author and illustrator of books for children. The books she has written and illustrated are the kinds of books she loved best as a child. She was a big fan of Cinderella and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and poured over the pictures, the dresses, and shoes. In Naomi’s own illustrations, she tries to include the kind of details children will get lost in as they listen to the story being read. Some of her books include: ABCDrive!, Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat, and Princess Says Goodnight. During this talk, Naomi will share her experiences creating the story Better-Than-Best Purim as we draw near the Purim holiday, which takes place on Thursday, February 25th.

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Join our PH community as we welcome Los Angeles-based cartoonist and author, Liz Climo.

Liz Climo is a cartoonist, children’s book author, illustrator, and animator. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to Los Angeles after college to work as a character artist on The Simpsons. She is the author of the Rory the Dinosaur series, The Little World of Liz Climo , Lobster Is the Best Medicine, and Best Bear Ever!. Her books have been translated into ten languages and have sold more than 2.25 million copies worldwide. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Join our PH community as we welcome illustrator Sandie Sonke.

Sandie is a Southern California native with a degree in studio art from California State University Fullerton. She is a fan of coffee and cooking, and among the many hats she wears, her favorite role is being a mom of two. Sandie has published several children’s books, including, Yoga Magic, The Day Punctuation Came to Town, and Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush. You can also find more of her freelance illustration work at www.sandiesonkeillustration.com

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Join our PH community as we welcome author, professor, and Sycamore parent, Jonathan Lethem.

Jonathan Lethem is the author of twelve novels, including The Fortress of Solitude and Girl In Landscape. His fifth, Motherless Brooklyn, won the National Book Critic’s Circle Award. His stories and essays have been collected in five volumes. He lives in Claremont and teaches Creative Writing at Pomona College.

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Join our PH community as we welcome author, illustrator, and a former Sycamore parent, Kimberly Gee.

Kimberly Gee is the creator of the lovable character Bear and the children series which includes, Mad, Mad Bear! and Glad, Glad Bear!. Prior to delving into her life-long dream of writing and illustrating children's books, Kimberly parlayed her creative talents into a successful career in architectural design, illustration, and greeting card design and production. Mine, Mine Mine Yours!, the sequel to her nationally recognized Up, Up, Up Down!, will be coming out Summer 2021.

If your child plans on tuning in, Kimberly will be sharing how she sketches her character, Bear. She has a printable worksheet available HERE if you would like to print out and have available for your child, so they can sketch along with her.

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Join Sycamore’s Publishing House organizer Joanna Lord, as she welcomes new and returning students and introduces one of her closest childhood friends, the very talented, Taylor Orci.

Taylor Orci is a screenwriter and comedian based in Los Angeles who came to television through public radio journalism. Some of her work includes writing on the Netflix series, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, for three seasons, writing pilots and starring in some of your favorite shows on Comedy Central, and contributing to publications such as The Atlantic, Elle, Cosmo, and Vanity Fair.

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.