H.M. Bouwman and Matt Eicheldinger

Saturday, November 8, 2025
10:30am, Riverview Room (located upstairs from the Book Fair)

In this unique session, bound to be interactive and fun for both kids and adults, two acclaimed authors for younger readers will have an informal conversation about how (and why!) they write about their own lives in their fiction. 

About the Authors

H.M. Bouwman is the author of many middle-grade novels for kids, including the fantasy novels A Crack in the Sea, A Tear in the Ocean, and Gossamer Summer, and the Owen and Eleanor chapter book series. Her books have made the “best of” Kirkus list and have beena Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, a Kid’s Indie Next Pick;,and a VOYA top shelf selection. Bouwman holdsa PhD in colonial and early American literature andteaches literature and creative writing at the University of St. Thomas. In her free time, she’s raised two quirky kids and has practiced a traditional Korean martial art for over 25 years.

Matt Eicheldinger, a New York Times bestselling author, wasn’t always a writer. He spent most of his childhood playing soccer, reading comics, and trying his best to stay out of trouble. Matt lives in Bloomington with his wife and two children and tries to create new adventures with them whenever possible. When he’s not writing, you can find him telling students stories in the classroom or trail running along the Minnesota River Bottoms.