Kids Need to Read is honored to welcome James A. Owen to the foundation’s Advisory Council, where he joins author PJ Haarsma, actor Nathan Fillion, writer Margaret Bostrom, and author Jackie Morris. James A. Owen has written and illustrated five books in The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica series: Here, There Be Dragons, The Search For The Red Dragon; The Indigo King; The Shadow Dragons, and The Dragon’s Apprentice. The series is now being published in more than twenty languages. A sixth volume, The Dragons of Winter, is forthcoming. He is founder and executive director of Coppervale International, an art and design studio that also published the periodicals International Studio and Argosy, develops television and film projects, and is redesigning an entire town, among other ventures. James has written and illustrated two dozen Starchild comics, the Mythworld series of novels (published in Germany and France), and more. The Wonder Cabinet is his personal blog, often featuring amusing anecdotes on life’s ups and downs. He lives in Arizona with his family.
James has been a longtime friend of Kids Need to Read, often supporting the foundation through his blog, art contributions, and fundraising. The author recently conducted an amusing Facebook challenge benefiting KNTR. He offered up photographic evidence of himself dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” with a blond Springer Spaniel while dressed in tight bike shorts and rollerblades — proclaiming “great legs” — in exchange for donations to Kids Need to Read. The frivolity resulted in $625 for the foundation!
The author served alongside actors Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton as a Fashion Geek-tacular judge at the 2010 Kids Need to Read Geek Prom, the foundation’s annual fundraiser at Phoenix Comicon, sponsored by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. James attended the KNTR Geek Prom as his own fictional creation, “Nick Castle,” the bitter, jealous younger brother of Rick Castle, the character played by KNTR co-founder Nathan Fillion on the ABC television show, Castle. The talented artist drew sketches of Nikki Heat while in character as Nick Castle to raise funds for KNTR.
Additionally, James contributes quotes and art to KNTR’s annual wall calendars and note cards. As in all his work, both written and illustrative, his latest contribution inspires imagination, which makes James a perfect partner for Kids Need to Read.
Please join us in welcoming James A. Owen to the KNTR Advisory Council.
