Authors / Illustrators
CLARABELLE van Niekerk
Co-author - Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
Illustrator - Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
Clarabelle was born in South Africa of Afrikaans descent and is now an American citizen. She earned her degrees abroad, graduating from Bloemfontein Teachers College with a degree in early childhood elementary education. She also holds a degree in fine arts from the University of Orange Free State South Africa. Clarabelle toured Europe as an accomplished cellist for The Free State Orchestra, lectured at The Zwelitsha Art College and founded The London Puppet Theatre. Internationally acclaimed, Clarabelle has received many awards including a South African Grammy award for best CD, The Perry Cumberland Excellence in Puppetry Award, the ARC of Crawford County, Inc. Educator of the Year Award for Children with Special Needs, and several book cover art awards. She continues to exhibit her artwork in museums and galleries in the United States and abroad. Clarabelle is currently a resident artist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, where she creates and participates in 'art infused' educational programs. Her cross-curriculum programs utilize music, painting, voice, dance movement, and acting to enhance the learning experience and improve social skills of young children. Inspired by her experiences with many children such as 'MAC', Clarabelle teamed up with her daughter, Liezl Venter, to co-author Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome, their first picture book, which Clarabelle also illustrated. She currently resides in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where she continues to participate in educational programs for children sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Visit Clarabelle's website at www.clarabelle.net.
LIEZL Venter, MA, CCC-SLP
Co-author - Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
Liezel, a speech language pathologist, has extensive experience and is widely recognized as a specialist in working with students with autistic spectrum disorders. As clinical lead of a primary school language unit for students with Asperger's in London, she initiated and developed a comprehensive program for the integration of performing arts within the curriculum for the successful remediation of social skills. In this role, she also acted as a
lead clinician on a highly specialist multidisciplinary team, providing
consultative and specialist diagnostic and early intervention services
to children with severe speech language disorders. Liezl was also the
clinical lead at the Royal National Institute for the Blind,
specifically working with young adults with Asperger's syndrome. Here,
she developed functional social skills programs to deliver successful
communication outcomes. Liezl has collaborated with Clarabelle and
together, they have worked in schools for the Council on the Arts for
both Erie and Titusville, using the performing arts to improve student's
social skills and academic achievements. Inspired by their experiences
with many children such as 'MAC', Liezl teamed up with Clarabelle, to
co-author Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome, their first
picture book. She is a certified member of both the American Speech
Language Hearing Association and Speech Pathology Australia. Liezl
continues her work in special needs field as a private practitioner,
specializing in eating disorders of young children on the autistic
spectrum.
MARK Weber
Illustrator - Roaring, Boring Alice (A Story of the Aurora Borealis)
Mark's work has appeared in many publications including The New York Times, the Washington Post, Cricket, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, Highlights for Children, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Chicago Tribune and The International Herald Tribune, to name a few. He illustrated a 50th anniversary edition of Little Toot and the Lighthouse. His paintings can be found in both galleries and private collections in North America and Europe. An Erie, Pennsylvania native, Mark currently resides and works in southern New Jersey with his wife Chris and stepdaughter, Kelsie.
PK Merski
Author - Roaring, Boring Alice (A Story of the Aurora Borealis)
Playwright - Roaring, Boring Alice THE MUSICAL
Patty 'PK' founded Skeezel Press in 2004, with the creation of her first children's picture book, Roaring, Boring Alice (A Story of the Aurora Borealis). During the writing and creation of Roaring Boring Alice, she was able to weave both her love and intrigue of color with parenting experiences into the storyline. Recently, Patty accepted a commission from the South Park Children's Theatre, South Park, PA, to develop a play based on Roaring Boring Alice. She wrote the lyrics for seven original songs and collaborated with local talent, Natalya Martirosorova, who composed the musical score. Roaring, Boring Alice THE MUSICAL premiered August 1, 2011 at the South Park Children's Outdoor Theatre, in Pittsburgh, PA. It is currently being reviewed for publication.
Patty lives along the shores of Lake Erie with her husband, Ron, their three children, and her faithful dog, Rosco.
Natalya Martirosorova
Musical Score - Roaring, Boring Alice THE MUSICAL
Co-author - Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
Illustrator - Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
Clarabelle was born in South Africa of Afrikaans descent and is now an American citizen. She earned her degrees abroad, graduating from Bloemfontein Teachers College with a degree in early childhood elementary education. She also holds a degree in fine arts from the University of Orange Free State South Africa. Clarabelle toured Europe as an accomplished cellist for The Free State Orchestra, lectured at The Zwelitsha Art College and founded The London Puppet Theatre. Internationally acclaimed, Clarabelle has received many awards including a South African Grammy award for best CD, The Perry Cumberland Excellence in Puppetry Award, the ARC of Crawford County, Inc. Educator of the Year Award for Children with Special Needs, and several book cover art awards. She continues to exhibit her artwork in museums and galleries in the United States and abroad. Clarabelle is currently a resident artist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, where she creates and participates in 'art infused' educational programs. Her cross-curriculum programs utilize music, painting, voice, dance movement, and acting to enhance the learning experience and improve social skills of young children. Inspired by her experiences with many children such as 'MAC', Clarabelle teamed up with her daughter, Liezl Venter, to co-author Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome, their first picture book, which Clarabelle also illustrated. She currently resides in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where she continues to participate in educational programs for children sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Visit Clarabelle's website at www.clarabelle.net.LIEZL Venter, MA, CCC-SLP
Co-author - Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
Liezel, a speech language pathologist, has extensive experience and is widely recognized as a specialist in working with students with autistic spectrum disorders. As clinical lead of a primary school language unit for students with Asperger's in London, she initiated and developed a comprehensive program for the integration of performing arts within the curriculum for the successful remediation of social skills. In this role, she also acted as a
lead clinician on a highly specialist multidisciplinary team, providing
consultative and specialist diagnostic and early intervention services
to children with severe speech language disorders. Liezl was also the
clinical lead at the Royal National Institute for the Blind,
specifically working with young adults with Asperger's syndrome. Here,
she developed functional social skills programs to deliver successful
communication outcomes. Liezl has collaborated with Clarabelle and
together, they have worked in schools for the Council on the Arts for
both Erie and Titusville, using the performing arts to improve student's
social skills and academic achievements. Inspired by their experiences
with many children such as 'MAC', Liezl teamed up with Clarabelle, to
co-author Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome, their first
picture book. She is a certified member of both the American Speech
Language Hearing Association and Speech Pathology Australia. Liezl
continues her work in special needs field as a private practitioner,
specializing in eating disorders of young children on the autistic
spectrum. MARK Weber
Illustrator - Roaring, Boring Alice (A Story of the Aurora Borealis)
Mark's work has appeared in many publications including The New York Times, the Washington Post, Cricket, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, Highlights for Children, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Chicago Tribune and The International Herald Tribune, to name a few. He illustrated a 50th anniversary edition of Little Toot and the Lighthouse. His paintings can be found in both galleries and private collections in North America and Europe. An Erie, Pennsylvania native, Mark currently resides and works in southern New Jersey with his wife Chris and stepdaughter, Kelsie.
PK Merski
Author - Roaring, Boring Alice (A Story of the Aurora Borealis)
Playwright - Roaring, Boring Alice THE MUSICAL
Patty 'PK' founded Skeezel Press in 2004, with the creation of her first children's picture book, Roaring, Boring Alice (A Story of the Aurora Borealis). During the writing and creation of Roaring Boring Alice, she was able to weave both her love and intrigue of color with parenting experiences into the storyline. Recently, Patty accepted a commission from the South Park Children's Theatre, South Park, PA, to develop a play based on Roaring Boring Alice. She wrote the lyrics for seven original songs and collaborated with local talent, Natalya Martirosorova, who composed the musical score. Roaring, Boring Alice THE MUSICAL premiered August 1, 2011 at the South Park Children's Outdoor Theatre, in Pittsburgh, PA. It is currently being reviewed for publication.Patty lives along the shores of Lake Erie with her husband, Ron, their three children, and her faithful dog, Rosco.
Natalya Martirosorova
Musical Score - Roaring, Boring Alice THE MUSICAL
