Hillary Homzie is a visiting associate professor at Hollins University where she teaches in the graduate M.F.A. program in children's writing. She is the author of the forthcoming tween novel, Things Are Gonna Get Ugly (Simon & Schuster, June 2009) as well as the successful chapter book series Alien Clones From Outer Space (Simon & Schuster), which is being made into an animated television series. In a feature story on her writing workshops, the Los Angeles Times said: "Homzie was very attentive, as well as appreciative and encouraging for almost two hours of bliss." She has been privately coaching both published authors and aspiring authors for eight years, several of whom have achieved publishing success with major national accolades.