Author Bio and Artist Credits

 Author, Fran Quittel, is a native New Yorker who, since 1996, has split her time between the Bay Area and 57th Street in Manhattan, at the foot of Central Park.   She has a strong background in language and literature, and has worked with many leading technology companies, where she obviously thought of applying GPS and self-driving technologies to helping lost items find their way home.

The Central Park Lost Mitten Party was inspired by a visit to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where Fran’s adopted “almost aunt” Florence dropped one glove.   “Don’t worry about that glove,” Fran said.  “It’s in Central Park having a party!”,  to which Aunt Florence replied: “Now that’s all right in a story for children!”   

Fran has a  B.A. from Hunter College and an M. Phil. from Yale University.  When she is not busy searching for lost items in Central Park, Fran spearheaded a grassroots effort which added an amendment to the Dodd Frank Financial Reform Bill,  successfully restoring $270 million to 10,000 bank depositors - pro bono.  She is an avid hiker who loves public parks and a nurturing world for children and their grown-ups. In addition to the artists and collaborators who have brought The Central Park Mitten Party  to life,

Fran's next book unravels another of life's mysteries: the lost sock!

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~~  These collaborators helped create The Central Park Lost Mitten Party! ~~

Illustrators and painters Salma Arastu and Ana Podvysotska and  triple award-winning font designer Paul Veres.

Illustrator Salma Arastu is a painter, sculptor, print maker, and calligrapher. Her delightful paintings, drawings and sculptures celebrate energy, form, color, and movement.   

Ukrainian-born Anastasia Podvysotska, now lives in Northern California. Anastasia drew the characters of Molly and her mother, as well as their home and Central Park backgrounds. She is studying to be an architect.

Retired high school art teacher and graphic designer, Paul Veres, is a triple award winning font designer. His typeface, Caterina, was chosen by HarperCollins for the cover of Go Set a Watchman, the sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird.

Fran's additional special thanks go to Mark Weiman (Regent Press) ad Ruth Amernick, proofreader,  with  over-the-top gratitude to Jim Kelly and  his wildly amazing staff at  Berkeley-based Saddle Point Systems.