Nature of Change

René Marsh is an Emmy-nominated CNN correspondent who has been writing and telling stories as a journalist for more than two decades. René was inspired to start writing children’s books in order to raise awareness and funding for pediatric cancer research after her late son, Blake, was diagnosed with brain cancer at nine months old. Her first book, The Miracle Workers: Boy vs. Beast, was featured on the Today show, ABC, and CNN. All proceeds from the book were donated to pediatric brain cancer research. René resides in the D.C. metro area with her husband and daughter.Pumudi Gardiyawasam was born and raised in Sri Lanka and is currently based in Toronto, Canada. She is a self-taught, digital children’s book illustrator. As a child, she was passionate about both art and nature, which led her to a degree in zoology. But she never lost her passion for art. In 2019, she made the career change to become a full-time children’s book illustrator. Pumudi looks to combine her natural art talent with what she learned in university to educate young children about nature and its importance, leading younger generations toward making a better world for all living beings. When she is not drawing, Pumudi loves experimental cooking, hiking, camping, reading books, and watching movies with her husband.