Little Johnny Diamond and the Very Windy Day: Little Johnny Diamond

John Wiltse, or "Johnny Diamond" as he's colloquially known, hails from a ranch nestled at the base of the Beartooth Mountains in Clark, Wyoming. Growing up as the youngest of five in the 1970s, his childhood was filled with ranch chores, camaraderie, and unforgettable adventures. His early experiences working as a horse wrangler and guide in his father's outfitting business later inspired his semi-autobiographical tales of unique characters and intriguing incidents.

John pursued a successful career in photography, capturing timeless images for publications like Time Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Smithsonian. However, his heart remained tethered to the plains and mountains of his youth. His debut book, "Little Johnny Diamond and the Very Windy Day," was born from a letter he wrote to his grandparents about a windy-day adventure on his pony.

Now residing in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Heidi, John cherishes the simple pleasures of life - travel, music, hiking, camping, skiing, and spending time with their two cats. Most importantly, as proud grandparents themselves, John and Heidi relish in the role that inspired his first book.

In a world brimming with colors and imagination, there emerged a creative visionary whose dream was to capture the hearts of children and breath life into the pages of a story with her illustrations.

Jennifer Van Name was born and raised on Long Island, NY. The eldest of three children. At a young age she realized the importance of family and spent most weekends and holidays with her parents, siblings, grandparents, and cousins. Jennifer grew up surround by creative inspiration as her father and grandfather were incredible artists. Throughout childhood Jennifer' parents encouraged her artistic creativity and enrolled her in numerous summer art programs where she was exposed to a variety of media, developed her skills and deepened her love for the arts. She was awarded numerous art scholarships from various colleges and attended Ohio University where she double majored in Graphic Design and Illustration. It was at Ohio University where John Wiltse and Jennifer Van Name met in an Art History class and became fast friends.

Jennifer spent the first 10 years after college as a Graphic Designer and Art Director working for corporate firms in New York City and on Long Island. After the birth of her second child, she longed to make a difference in the world and enrolled in graduate school to become an art teacher. She received her MS in Secondary Education from Dowling College and her Professional Degree in School District Administration from Stony Brook University.

Jennifer has been a high school art teacher for 24 years and has been the districts' art coordinator since 2008.

Jennifer lives with her husband John, three rescue dogs and two cats in Wading River, NY where they raised their two children. They enjoy sailing, gardening, biking, and morning coffee on their front porch but most importantly they enjoy quiet time together.