Brian D. McLaren is a best-selling author, speaker, and activist. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is now a faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation and an Auburn Senior Fellow. He is married to Grace, and they are parents to four and grandparents to five: Averie, Mia, Ella, Lucas, and Ada. He loves kayaking, hiking, and enjoying the great outdoors.
Gareth Higgins, PhD, grew up near Belfast, Northern Ireland. He writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives, making a more peaceful and compassionate world. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction, and co-taught the world’s first graduate course in reconciliation studies at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped found The Porch Magazine, along with the Wild Goose, New Story, and Movies & Meaning festivals. Gareth leads transformative story retreats in the U.S. and Ireland.

Anita Schmidt is an illustrator from northern Germany and lives with her family in a small house by the lake. Inspired by nature and her children, she brings stories from all over the world to life with her drawings.