Frederick Joseph is a Yonkers, New York-raised two-time New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. His books include the poetry collection We Alive, Beloved ; the nonfiction works Patriarchy Blues , The Black Friend , and Better Than We Found It , co-written with Porsche Joseph; the picture book Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream , illustrated by Nikkolas Smith; and the forthcoming YA novel This Thing of Ours . He was recognized with a 2021 International Literacy Association Young Adult Book Award, was named to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for marketing and advertising, and is an activist, philanthropist, and poet. Frederick Joseph was also honored with a 2023 Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Vanguard Award and the 2018 Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and he was selected for the 2018 Root 100, a list of the most influential African Americans. Paul Kellam is a New York Times best-selling illustrator who earned a bachelor's in media arts and animation from the Art Institute of Jacksonville. He has colorfully illustrated various books, including You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) by Taraji P. Henson, Kiki Finds Her Voice by Kierra Sheard-Kelly, and The Little Mermaid: Make a Splash by Ashley Franklin, among many others.

Paul Kellam resides in Florida with his bestie and their adopted dog-son, Baby.