Date and time: February 29, 2024 at 4 PM ET
Hear from children's book authors, Moana McAdams and Brad Wagnon, who write stories from a perspective that reflects their cultures and attitudes towards wildlife and being in the outdoors.

Moana McAdams is a Hawai’i-born writer and cultural ambassador who uses the power of storytelling to nurture curious minds and inspire cultural self-awareness. She made her writing debut with Aftermath for the Amazon best-seller “Set Apart and Chosen” and now uses her talents to cultivate and write children’s books. Moanaʻs self-published bilingual children's book series—written in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian) and English—includes 4 fun tales that are inspired by her childhood adventures and the joy of adolescence while uplifting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures. Moana also freelances as a writer and cultural consultant for mainstream clients such as Disney, Audible, Dynamite Entertainment, and more. She is currently a creative team member for the new Lilo and Stich comic book series set for release on Jan 31, 2024!

Along with being a writer and author, Moana heads the digital media platform, Moana Nui Podcast, a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (NHPI), POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples. With sponsorship from Papa Ola Lōkahi, the Moana Nui Podcast amplifies the rich heritage and culture of NHPI peoples to improve their health status and wellbeing. The Moana Nui Podcast helps corporate clients such as the Kimberly-Clark Corporation build the equitable and inclusive businesses of the future, while partnering with non-profit community organizations like the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW) to develop NHPI women leaders. 

McAdams’ dedication to her craft and focus on sharing the voices of the BIPOC community sets her apart from the rest of her peers as a storyteller, writer, and author.  With a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, and a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Maryland, McAdams combines both her creative and analytical expertise to not only produce compelling stories but makes her adaptable in the changing landscape of literature. Check out her books and her MoanaNui podcast.

Brad Wagnon is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.  Brad lives in Gideon on the Cherokee Nation Reservation with his wife, Tanya and next door to his mother, Judy.  Brad is a published author of 4, soon to be 6 children’s books on the subjects of Cherokee stories, language and history. Brad works for the Cherokee Nation as the Emergency Management Community Preparedness Coordinator.  In his spare time Brad is a bonsai hobbyist and enjoys spending time in his greenhouse or working on his trees.  Brad is an identical twin and his brother Brian lives close by with his wife Ashley and their children, Isaac, Anna and Levi. Check out his books.