Authors & Collaborators
Erina Linden
Erina Linden is a writer, illustrator, and literary translator whose work moves between poetry, fiction, and visual storytelling. Raised under Albania’s repressive communist regime, she grew up in a world where foreign books and languages were forbidden, shaping her lifelong devotion to literature, translation, and cultural exchange. She holds a master’s degree in Creative Writing from a prestigious UK university and has lived across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. She is also a passionate nature conservation advocate and an unapologetic coffee devotee.
Thomas N. Githuku
Meet Thomas, a Kenyan student with a passion for storytelling. Thomas advocates for children’s literacy in his country and is determined to make a difference in the world through his writing. He uses stories to educate, entertain, and inspire children, particularly in Kenya and East Africa. Thomas wants to invite everyone to the amazing national parks of Kenya and East Africa to meet the lions, rhinoceros, and majestic elephants. Thomas is the co-author of Elephants Don’t Belong in Cages, a DIFIERI picture book.
Laura Woodbridge
Sherry Michell
Prerana Arbad
Emily Cass
Sherry is a passionate storyteller who was born in Miami, Florida, but resides in Fort Worth, Texas. She earned her BA in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University. Her creativity extends across various writing platforms, and she’s published work as a novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. A curator of her destiny, Sherry generates authentic content that resonates with readers, and she is unapologetic in her craftmanship. Pushing the boundaries of marginalization, including that of women and African American demographics, she recognizes that stories exist in all life forms and seizes every opportunity to tell a great story. As a playwright, Sherry contributes to story adaptations for DIFIERI’s anothologies on short plays from the Masters.
Emily Cass is a storyteller and marine biology student from the UK. Her passion for ocean conservation and biodiversity shines in her debut picture book, Lottie and the Plastic Rescue. The story follows a brave dolphin whose fin becomes trapped in a plastic bag, and the teamwork of marine animals who come together to help, weaving themes of environmental awareness with fun and fascinating details about marine life. Now based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, Emily combines her studies in marine biology with exploring the rich underwater ecosystems of the Canary Islands, inspiring her writing and advocacy for a cleaner, healthier ocean. Emily’s Lottie and the Plastic Rescue will be available soon on DIFIERI’s bookshelf and worldwide.
Prerana Arbad is a freelance writer and translator with a rare combination of technical expertise and creative passion. With a background in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Psychology in progress, Prerana seamlessly blends analytical thinking with a deep understanding of human nature. Her love for reading and storytelling, rooted in childhood memories of Panchatantra and Isapniti tales, blossomed into a full-time writing career during the pandemic. For over five years, Prerana has specialized in crafting fairy tales, moral stories, and heartfelt love stories that transport readers to enchanting worlds while imparting meaningful lessons. Whether she’s spinning a timeless fable or exploring the intricacies of relationships, Prerana invites her audience to escape, learn, and journey to places both familiar and unknown. Prerana Arbad is the author of the upcoming picture book: DIWALI: Priya’s Festival of Lights.
Laura is a Manhattan-based playwright and director. She holds a BA in Theatre with a concentration in Acting and Directing and a minor in Film Production. She has written and co-written multiple commissioned and original productions, including a full-length collaborative theater adaptation, ten-minute plays, and short films for festivals and writing workshops. Laura co-founded Overnight Theatre, a company aiming to push the boundaries of theatre and film by creating a community and culture of support, unlimited by the restraint of perfection. As a playwright, Laura contributed to DIFIERI’s anthologies on Short Plays from the Masters.
Niobe Rojas
Niobe Rojas was born in Carúpano, Venezuela. She is the daughter of an English teacher and a chemistry professor, both poets and philosophers. Since she was a child, she showed interest in reading, writing, and the arts—passions that her mother encouraged while she educated her in English, a task that she achieved despite her death from meningitis in 2003. In 2010, Niobe moved alone to the country’s capital to study cinematographic arts at the Central University of Venezuela. Since then, she has been working as a freelancer, combining her knowledge of the arts and languages. Niobe is a translator, contributing to DIFIERI’s poetry anthologies.
Van Halen Cunanan (Kamvanc)
Doan Trang
Kate Henriott-Jauw
Sujeewa Chandana
Van Halen is a Filipino artist specializing in different mediums, from traditional pen and ink to 3D digital modeling. His love of drawing began as a child when he asked his mother to draw Superman, but she refused, so he drew the superhero himself. After that, he befriended pencil and paper, leading to a career in the arts and graphic illustration. Van Halen is a fan of ebooks and audiobooks and is rarely seen not reading or listening to one while sketching the next fantasy character or world villain.
Doan is a painter and illustrator based in Vietnam. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Her work focuses on illustrations for children’s books and concept art for films, games, and animation. Doan loves the expressive freedom art offers and uses detailed and intricate art forms to capture the majesty of life and nature.
Kate is an artist, award-winning illustrator, and author. She studied fine arts at Western Michigan University in the United States, but that was not the beginning of her artistic journey. At age three, she illustrated her first story on a wall with pink crayons. Her parents were thrilled! Kate is the executive director of The Blue Bead, a non-profit organization that uses fine arts, storytelling, and music to create positive change.
Sujeewa is a gifted Sri Lankan artist passionate about nature and wildlife conservation. He works as a computer graphics designer. Sujeewa is interested in archeology and serves as a lecturer on Sri Lanka’s historical irrigation and the arts. Sujeewa has dedicated his life to art and his love and passion for nature.
Get to know some of our Authors, Illustrators, and Collaborators