Carol Aebersold, co-author of The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition® was born in Texas, lived most of the first 12 years of her life in northern Indiana, and has been a “southern gal” ever since. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where she received a degree in Music Education.

Carol met, married and moved to Georgia with her new husband Bob. Three children later, she became the editor-in-chief of Dayspring Magazine and later wrote copy for a local advertising agency. Carol is involved in community theatre where she has participated in more than 25 productions.

Today, she is a writer, as well as a humorous and inspirational speaker. Carol is also known as “Gran” to three of the cutest grandkids in the world. She resides with her husband and Shih Tzu, Boz, in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.

Chanda Bell, co-author of The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition® is a graduate of the State University of West Georgia. There she earned a bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education. Upon graduation Chanda taught English, social studies and reading to children in grades 5-8. As a teacher she designed a remedial reading curriculum for a local school system and was commissioned to design a county-wide reading skills test.

In 2001, Chanda left public education to become a full-time mom. While at home, she discovered her passion for writing and in 2004 she joined forces with her mom and twin sister to create CCA and B Publishing—home of The Elf on the Shelf®.

Since then, Chanda has been featured in media across the country, including WAGA-TV’s “Good Day Atlanta,” “Better Mornings” (WGCL-TV CBS), and NPR, as well as in The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Marietta Daily Journal, Our Town and The Post and Courier.

Presently, she divides her time between family and the daily operations of the publishing house. More often than not, she may be found on the road promoting The Elf on the Shelf® at book signing engagements or in schools. She also enjoys the many opportunities she has received to speak publicly and share her story with church and civic groups across the country.

Chanda lives in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and their two children—Taylor and Kendyl.

Sandy Harsanyi Murphy, author and illustrator of A Light in the Night™, is a native of Ohio. She is a graduate of Bowling Green State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in computer art and animation. As a middle school art teacher during the 9/11 attacks, Sandy designed a T-shirt campaign entitled “Cleveland Support” to help raise money for the American Red Cross relief effort. The teacher and her students borrowed $500 from the school just to get the project started, and the Cleveland Support campaign became a runaway success. More than 25,000 shirts were sold, and $125,000 was raised to support the effort—an amount which turned out to be the largest donation ever received by the Red Cross from a school!

Eventually, Sandy’s career path veered into the realm of media where she worked for the local CBS Radio affiliate in their marketing and promotions department. After four years at CBS and the birth of her second child, Sandy fulfilled her dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom. She now works as a freelance artist and author. Her first book, “A Light in the Night™,” was published in June 2010 by CCA and B, publishers of books and activities that bring families together. Sandy is married with two sons and lives in the Cleveland area.