About the Author
Growing up in Pennsylvania during the 1970’s and 80’s, 'childhood' meant meeting the neighborhood kids at the clubhouse in the woods, playing kickball in the street, racing red wagons, and catching lightning bugs. That independence and adventure Gorian knew from a young age now plays a profound role in the stories she tells through her books.
Originally a graphic designer by trade, Shana Gorian worked in front end web design for nine years, most notably for CSTV, the online network of schools eventually acquired by CBS College Sports. As a senior designer, she created the look and feel for for dozens of Division One university athletic department sites before leaving the work force to raise her children.
Years later, after her children went off to elementary school, and holding B.A. in writing from the University of Pittsburgh, Gorian began to fulfill the need for a creative outlet by writing stories for her kids. She published her first children's book in 2014 and has continued adding to the five-star series ever since.
With her Rosco the Rascal stories, Gorian attempts to evoke the simple sense of freedom and imagination that she experienced as a child. Her books portray the adventures of a brother and sister and their mischievous dog-turned-hero, and are based in combination on her own idyllic childhood and her children’s experiences with the modern day world. The real-life family German shepherd upon whom the title character is based provides the creative spark for a host of sometimes humorous but always heroic undertakings.
An avid lover of the great outdoors, Gorian can often be found hiking trails, walking the real-life Rosco with her children, or riding bicycles, searching for ways to relive her childhood. The trips invariably lead to new ideas for more books.
Learn more about Shana Gorian on LinkedIn. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Illustrators
Cover Illustrations:
Josh Addessi piloted the colorful and exciting covers for the series, creating the faces of Rosco, James, and Mandy, as well as their detailed and absorbing backdrops. His illustrations share his enormous talent with Gorian and her readers, using his signature animated, yet realistic style.
Addessi defines himself as a quirky illustrator and animation professor, based in Northwest Indiana. He has digitally painted all manner of book covers, stage backdrops and trading cards. Samples of his other artwork can be seen at http://joshaddessi.blogspot.com/
Victoria March is an illustrator and 3D sculptor working under the direction of Addessi for the Rosco the Rascal covers. She aided in painting the forest and camp for the Rosco the Rascal Goes to Camp book cover, the two dogs on the cover of Rosco the Rascal At the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and several others. Samples of her other artwork can be seen at https://www.artstation.com/artist/victoriamarch
Ros Webb illustrated the first five Rosco the Rascal books' interior pictures and was the original illustrator for the book covers before their redesign by Addessi. Her illustrations capture the feel for the stories with both their wit and their sometimes detailed, sometimes whimsical feel. Samples of her artwork can be seen here on Ros' Facebook page.
Books six through nine were illustrated by the author's daughter, Deidre Gorian, a self-taught, part-time artist who is working on her four-year degree in bio-chemistry.