Celeste Saves the City pulls readers into the life of a young girl forced to leave her beloved home as Hurricane Katrina threatens to flood New Orleans. Determined to make a difference in the future, she sets her sights on becoming a civil engineer and Celeste figures out how to protect the wetlands that slow down flood waters during bad storms and hurricanes. Introducing readers to civil engineering while paying homage to the "Big Easy", this semi-autobiographical tale encourages children from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in STEM and elevates the need for continued efforts to protect coastal cities from the impact of catastrophic weather events. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Courtney grew up wanting to be a veterinarian - until Hurricane Katrina changed the course of her life. After attending numerous engineering and math camps in high school, Courtney left Louisiana to pursue degrees in civil engineering and math at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. She began a career in management of heavy civil infrastructure construction projects and went on to obtain a master's degree in civil engineering with a concentration in structures from SMU and an MBA from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She is also a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas. Courtney serves on the board for SOSMC USA, a nonprofit raising funds to renovate three flood-prone buildings on the campus of the Opportunity School for low-income disabled children in Chennai, India. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, attending arts performances, and spending time with her fluffy bunny, Albus. For more information, visit www.courtneykellybooks.com Erin Nielson is a freelance illustrator in McKinney, Texas, (just outside of Dallas). She loves to create imaginative and whimsical artwork, especially if that artwork can include a few animals. She has worked with clients such as BYU Independent Study, The Friend Magazine, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Erin's love of art started early, with her paintings and artwork hung in her grandmother's home. She attended college at Brigham Young University, and graduated with a BFA in illustration. Soon after graduating, she married her husband, Matt, and moved to Texas for new adventures. She now enjoys working out of her home studio with her daughter, Emma, and rescue dog Zoey.