Gary D. Schmidt is the bestselling author of many books for young readers, including “Just Like That,” National Book Award finalist “Okay for Now,” “Pay Attention, Carter Jones,” “Orbiting Jupiter,” the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book “Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy” and the Newbery Honor book “The Wednesday Wars.” He is a professor of English at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His latest release, “The Labors of Hercules Beal,” will be featured at the 2023 National Book Festival.