John Claude Bemis

John Claude Bemis is an award-winning children's book author, musician, and visual artist who served as North Carolina's Piedmont Laureate for children's literature.[2] A former elementary school teacher with a Master's of Education in Literacy from UNC Chapel Hill, he has authored multiple middle-grade novels including The Wooden Prince, The Nine Pound Hammer, and the Clockwork Dark trilogy, while also working as a sculptural mask-maker and songwriter.[3][4]

Connecticut, United States Website
children's literature middle-grade fiction graphic novels