Dorina chases God’s glory as a mama of three girls, foodie, runner, podcaster, and a weaver of words. With an MFA in Children’s Literature, Dorina has published four multicultural children’s books with one more releasing in Spring 2024. Her book, Cora Cooks Pancit, received the Asian American Librarian’s Association Picture Book of the Year. Dorina also has experience teaching college students, speaking in elementary schools, and coaching youth.

Dorina is passionate about raising up women from diverse backgrounds to thrive in their God-given callings. Dorina writes for (in) courage and Proverbs 31 devotional teams. Her essays have been published at Kindred Mom, For Every Mom, The MOPS blog and in more than 20 newspapers. She specializes in helping people discover God's glory through adversity and flourish in community. Her gift is delivering authentic, Biblically-sound messages that engage audiences through story. She has published two Bible studies, Glory Chasers: Discovering God's Glory in Unexpected Places and Flourishing Together: Cultivating a Fruitful Life in Christ with two coming, Create in Me a Heart of Mercy and Reclaiming Ruth. Dorina is the president of the Redbud Writers Guild and the director of the Lead Loved ministry.

Dorina is the granddaughter of Filipino-Hawaiian and Italian immigrants. Raised in Chicago, she was transplanted to Fresno, California in 1999. She considers herself a California girl now as she raises three daughters to love the cultural diversity, wonder-filled landscapes and unique food of the state. After her husband died from cancer in 2014, Dorina married a long-time friend, Shawn Young. When Dorina is not writing or traveling with her family, she’s out on the trails running and chasing God’s glory.

Connect with Dorina at www.DorinaGilmore.com, where you can sign up for her Glorygram. You can also find her as @DorinaGilmore on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Kristi Valiant is the author/illustrator of GOOD NIGHT, CUDDLE TIGHT (Tommy Nelson) and PENGUIN CHA-CHA (Random House). Some of the recent books Kristi has illustrated are POPPY TAKES PARIS and NELLY TAKES NEW YORK by Allison Pataki and Marya Myers (Simon & Schuster), FEEL THE BEAT: Dance Poems that Zing from Salsa to Swing by Marilyn Singer (Dial), PRETTY MINNIE IN PARIS and PRETTY MINNIE IN HOLLYWOOD by the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Danielle Steel (Doubleday), THE GOODBYE CANCER GARDEN by Janna Matthies (Albert Whitman), CORA COOKS PANCIT by Dorina K Lazo Gilmore (Shen's Books), and Cecilia Galante's early chapter book series "Little Wings" (Random House). Kristi's books have received a Starred Review from School Library Journal, the APALA Picture Book Award, Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, and The Cooperative Children's Book Center top children's book picks.

Kristi graduated magna cum laude from Columbus College of Art and Design with a major in Illustration. Kristi grew up in Wisconsin and now lives and dances in Indiana with her husband, daughters, and rescue beagle. She tends to draw a mouse, hippo, monkey, and penguin somewhere in each of her recent picture books.

Kristi’s art is drawn and painted in Photoshop using a Cintiq display and pressure-sensitive pen. She finds working digitally allows her to be creative and edit easily, without the hazard of spilling dirty painting water or drinking it by mistake.