The Team

About the Author

Colleen Farwell was born and raised in the Crow Nation. She lived on a cattle ranch in the Wolf Mountains of Montana until her father's death when she was eleven years old. She attended Dartmouth College and currently resides in the Mohawk Nation (upstate New York) with her six wonderful children.

"I love coffee in the morning (especially waking up early and having coffee in an absolutely quiet house, knowing all the babes are snuggled down and sleeping); I love the vast Montana sky, especially on cloudless summer nights; I love the memory of my grandmother's bed and waking under softly worn, hand stitched quilts taken fresh off the clothes line; I love a good book, I love comfy, comfy socks; I love to cook and the way house fills with the smell of fresh herbs and garlic out of our garden; I love my hockey boys all suited up and on the ice; I love thunder storms and the smell of rain; I love the pristine rivers of Montana and how they swell with their ancient trout; I love watching my kids grow, and learn, and explore, and their wonder and truth amaze me; I love poetry, (I love Six Peaches In A Bowl, Sarajevo by Sandra Cisneros and how it reminds me of every bed I have ever been in in my life... my parents bed, my grandmother's bed, the beds of childhood friends, my children's beds and my lover's beds); I love barn fans and blues music on airless summer nights; I love stolen moments with the one I love; I love the delight of good food, and the comfort of good friends; and I love the way I feel when those I love walk through my door at the end of a long day or, most especially, after a long time gone."

About the Illustrator

Eleanor Grosch is known for her simplified, playful illustrations and bold, colorful design work. She started her business in 2003 making posters for bands. Her signature graphic punch got attention and soon her illustrations were licensed for fashion lines, baby products, and home decor.

"I love the starting the day with strong coffee and a long bicycle ride. I love warm days and cold nights. I love the Florida blue skies in what passes for Winter here. I love walking in our neighborhood when I can allow life to be slow and steady. I love the sound of my kids playing together. It's a sweet sound whether it's loud and raucous jumping on the couch, or quiet playing secretly under a tablecloth fort. I love letting images flow through me and allowing them to be what they are. It's fun to see what develops. I love that my daughter plays with trucks and mud, and she can also be the most divine princess, and that my son loves his nails painted bright pink, and he's the most rough-and-tumble outdoorsman you could meet. I love allowing what will be to be when I can let go enough to enjoy it. I love date night and getting pizza together. I love talking about plans for the future, and I love being here now."

About the Project Manager

Tailinh Agoyo is co-founder and director of We Are the Seeds of CultureTrust, a non-profit organization committed to uplifting and amplifying Indigenous voices through the arts. She is the host of 'Rise and Thrive', a radio show that honors the voices of Indigenous artists, performers, educators, and change-makers. She is also a producer on the gorgeous and significant 'I Will Carry You' children's book. Tailinh is an artist and an actor. Her photography work is focused on capturing the vibrancy of Indigenous people today. The Warrior Project, a collection of photos of Native youth and their continuing commitment to environmental stewardship has received international attention and continues to be impactful. Tailinh has worked in film and television for over 30 years. She is mom to four kind and lovely young men all of whom are basketball obsessed!