Two authors and staff from Kids Need to Read (KNTR) pulled into the Page Public Library parking lot on Oct. 12. It was special day for the library and the Mesa, Arizona, based children’s literacy foundation. It was the 50th event of their Grow Your Library (GYL) program.

The Chronicle spoke with KNTR Executive Director Jessica Payne and GRL Director Gary Mlodzik Thursday Tom and Lindy Schneider are a husband-and-wife writing team from Colorado Springs. Once a year, on average, they are guest authors for Kid Need to Read (KNTR) events. One of their popular books, “Starfish on the Beach,” is a KNTR favorite. KNTR Board Director Tina Mlodzik travels with her husband and fellow board director, Gary Mlodzik, for Grow Your Library (GYL) events. She likes reading “Starfish on the Beach” to children for story hour.

The Chronicle met with the Schneiders while they were in town for the GYL Page Public Library event. The Schneiders write mostly nonfiction books for children and adults, including “College Secrets of Highly Successful People: Keys to Launching a Great Life.” Lindy is also featured in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series.

“She’s also an internationally awarded playwright,” said Tom. “And we’re also writing a musical. We write a lot of different things.”

“We have a composer working with us,” said Lindy. “Tom is the lyricist, and I write the script.”

When the couple first met, Tom was writing music and doing studio work, and Lindy was an illustrator. She provided the illustrations for their “Starfish on the Beach” book. After seeing each other once a year at an annual New Year’s Eve gathering for four years, they decided to be lifelong friends but keep it at that. Six months later, they were married. It’s clear the couple complement each other personally and professionally. They’ve been married 43 years.

While in Page, the Schneiders visited Horseshoe Bend and took an Antelope Canyon tour, illustrating that Page Public Library is also good for local tourism.peCOMMUNITY