Beth and Kathleen Rooney have been sisters for all of their lives. And while they have lived in many states across the country--including West Virginia, Nebraska, Louisiana, Ohio, Washington, DC, Massachusetts, California, and Washington between them--they now call Oak Park and Chicago, Illinois their homes. The seasons and the changing leaves fascinate them. Beth is particularly fond of Common Horse Chestnut, American Sycamore and Red Oak leaves. Kathleen is drawn to Honey locust, Tulip Tree, and Elm leaves. They both especially appreciate Ginkgoes.



When she's not writing books with Beth, Kathleen helps other authors with their books at Rose Metal Press, a nonprofit publisher of literary work in hybrid genres, and writes poems on demand for strangers with her fellow typewriter poets as a founding member of Poems While You Wait. She is the author of the novels for adults Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey, and her latest poetry collection Where Are the Snows, winner of the XJ Kennedy Prize, was released in Fall of 2022 by Texas Review Press. Her latest novel, From Dust to Stardust, came out in September 2023.

She lives in Chicago with her husband, the writer Martin Seay, and teaches creative writing at DePaul University.

When Beth isn't writing children's books with Kathleen she is out taking photos for clients throughout Chicago. As a writer and photographer, she is drawn to stories that explore our place in the world and how individual circumstances add up to reflect larger truths. She is passionate about photography, writing, food, culture, and immersive travel. Check out her photos and articles here!

She currently lives in Oak Park with her two kids, Rose and Luka, and her husband, Nick, all of whom love leaves.