THE AUTHOR & THE ILLUSTRATOR

Jean-Marie R. Bralley has had a lifelong passion for stories as a reader, a writer, and a performer, sharing them through the art of ballet. She trained in classical ballet and other dance genres and ultimately became a professional ballerina. She now passes on the grace and magic of ballet to the next generation as a dance teacher.
 
She is also a freelance writer and has written for publications such as the USO and Wallflower Journal, among others. Susanna Claus Saves Christmas is her second children’s book and first collaboration with her friend, McKenna C. Moretz. Jean-Marie is also the author of the popularly acclaimed 2022 children’s novelette, Naomi Grace’s “Wonder-full” Christmas, available online at major retailers. She resides in Virginia, and you can follow her on Instagram @bookish.ballerina_.

McKenna C. Moretz has loved art since her early childhood and has dreamed of illustrating children’s books for over 20 years. While she and Jean-Marie R. Bralley were college roommates, they talked hopefully of one day collaborating on such a project. What a thrill for those hopes to materialize and to know you, dear reader, are now holding the fruit of those conversations in your hands!

Susanna Claus Saves Christmas is McKenna’s first children’s book collaboration. She has a small calligraphy business and lives in Ohio with her husband, Andrew, and their three children. You can follow her on Instagram @mckennachristinecalligraphy.