About

Joan Cummins is a public historian, theater artist, and lifelong avid reader who first encountered Tamora Pierce’s work at the age of 11. By day she works at President Lincoln’s Cottage, and by night creates performance art with The Tarot Reading. Other engagements include dog & pony dc, American University, Signature Theatre, Young Playwright’s Theatre, District Misfits, Pinky Swear Productions, Mosaic Theatre and the Welders. She collects Converse All Star hi-tops and a good couch is her favorite piece of furniture.

Rebecca Speas is a North Carolina-born-and-raised actor, director, and bookseller who first read Tamora Pierce when she borrowed Wild Magic from her friend in sixth grade Language Arts class. (She also might have accidentally stolen that copy?? Unclear. Sorry, Aana!) By day, and often by night, she is a fiercely independent bookseller at One More Page Books in Arlington, VA, where she manages events and peddles her favorite books to people of all ages.  Other interests include: culinary history, hot weather, her cat Eleanor, and Capitals hockey.