Nick is from Toledo, Ohio.After high school, Nick attended Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in Southfield, Michigan. While completing school, he started working as a producer for a News/Talk Radio station. After tumbling around a few local television and radio stations, Nick decided it was time to explore. To do so, he started working as a flight attendant. Insert joke here. But the travel discounts and flight benefits have made so much available to him, that he can't express his gratitude and love of the job enough.Nick has lived in Toledo, various spots in Michigan and also spent three years in Maui, Hawaii.Growing up, Nick was always encouraged by his parents that all opportunities… for the future were on the table. "You can grow up to be anything you want to be," was a common thing heard around the house.When thinking of themes for Pete the Popcorn, Nick couldn't help but return to this again and again. Nick thinks messages like this might get lost to children in the world we live in today. When parents are struggling, perhaps hope for the future gets a little clouded over.And that's why Nick hopes the message of Pete the Popcorn strikes a chord with your kids- it's a corny story about popping up... and you can pop up to be whatever you want to be!Joe is from Westland, Michigan. He has worked as a marketing director for a major theater group, as a 911 operator and as a children's counselor for United Way.In his spare time, Joe contributes to Toys for Tots, the charity of choice of the US Marines, where his brother David gave his life. Schooled at Madonna University and Schoolcraft College in Michigan, Joe also spends a lot of time traveling. Joe attributes his drive to write a children's book to the recent outbreak of bullying in schools across the country. "Kids need to learn at a young age that we all grow up into different people--- different personalities, shapes, sizes, colors-and there is no reason to single anybody out for bullying because they are different."Both authors hope Pete the Popcorn can help instill a message in young children that will bring bullying in our schools to an eventual halt.Illustrator and picture book artist, Kathleen Smith Waters, a graduate from the Cleveland Institute of Art, (BFA, Illustration, 2010), is from Canton, Ohio and currently resides in Lakewood, Ohio. She is passionate about children's books and she draws much of her inspiration from nature and nostalgia from childhood.