Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Joan Holub, born in Texas in 1956, is a prolific author and illustrator of children's books, also known by the pseudonyms Rita Book and Brad Bucks. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she worked as an art director before moving to New York to pursue her passion for children's literature at Scholastic. Holub began illustrating in 1992 and later transitioned to writing full-time, selling her first manuscripts in 1996. Her solo work includes books like 'Zero the Hero' and 'Little Red Writing'.

In collaboration with Suzanne Williams, Holub has created several popular middle-grade series aimed at readers aged 8-12 and 6-9. These include 'The Goddess Girls,' which reimagines Greek goddesses as students at Mount Olympus Academy, and 'Heroes in Training,' focusing on young Olympian gods battling Titans. They also authored 'Grimmtastic Girls,' featuring female fairy tale characters at Grimm Academy. Holub's book 'Mighty Dads' achieved New York Times bestseller status.

Joan Holub, born in 1956 in Texas, developed a career path that led her to become a celebrated author and illustrator of over 180 children's books. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas. She initially gained professional experience by freelancing as an art director for a graphic design firm for eight years. Driven by a strong aspiration to work within the realm of children's literature, Holub relocated to New York City. There, she secured a position as an associate art director for Scholastic trade books, where she was involved in book design and collaborated with editors and illustrators. This foundational experience paved the way for her own creative endeavors.

Holub's journey into authorship and illustration began with her first published children's book in 1992. Shortly thereafter, she dedicated herself to illustrating full-time. By the early 1990s, she was actively crafting and submitting her own manuscripts to publishers. Her persistence paid off in 1996 when she successfully sold two of her manuscripts: 'A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book' and 'Pen Pals.' Since then, Holub has focused her professional efforts on writing, establishing herself as a full-time author.

In partnership with Suzanne Williams, Joan Holub has co-authored a series of popular middle-grade books. 'The Goddess Girls' series, designed for ages 8–12, centers on prominent Greek goddesses such as Athena, Persephone, and Aphrodite, portraying them as students at a fictional Mount Olympus Academy. The curriculum includes subjects like beauty-ology and spell-ology, overseen by Principal Zeus. Another joint venture, 'Heroes in Training,' explores the adventures of young Olympians like Zeus and Poseidon as they face the Titans, existing in a separate narrative universe from 'The Goddess Girls.' They also created 'Grimmtastic Girls,' which reimagines classic fairy tale heroines attending Grimm Academy, and 'Little Goddess Girls,' aimed at younger readers aged 6–9.