About Us

Author – Ann Murnane

Ann Murnane is a retired School Library Media Specialist. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in School Library Science and a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching and Learning. She worked as an Elementary School Librarian and a Middle School Librarian.
Ann lived in Japan during the Vietnam Conflict and enjoyed learning about the history and traditions of the Japanese culture. During that time she worked at the Service Club at Camp Zama, Sagamihara. It was a Rest and Recuperation Center where wounded American soldiers were sent to Camp Zama for treatment of injuries sustained in Vietnam.
She became interested in the history of World War II and the establishment of War Relocation Centers when she chose this topic for a college writing assignment. The more she researched and learned about Japanese Americans being forcibly relocated to Internment Camps the stronger her feelings grew concerning the injustice and severe violation of civil liberties the Japanese Americans endured.
Ann’s Aunt Millie told her a story about a Japanese teapot that her Father’s tenant farmer in California had given them when the Japanese American family had to leave their farm. Her aunt then gave Ann the teapot knowing she would always cherish it. It was so fitting when her aunt gave her the teapot that Ann made the connection to write about the teapot’s journey.
Ann hopes that this story will spark an interest in children to read and learn more about World War II, immigration, and social justice.

Illustrator – Stephanie Forney

Stephanie Forney is a professional artist and educator in the central Ohio area. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing & Art Education and a Master of Education degree in Educational Technology Management and currently teaches high school visual art. In her personal art, she works mainly in pastel, charcoal, and digital painting. Outside of fine art, Stephanie also works in the comic book industry as a writer and artist. When she’s not creating art or teaching, she’s typically baking and hanging out with her two pups.