Meet the Authors & The Baxter's Corner Story
MEET THE AUTHORS
Stephanie L. Logsdon
Author, Teacher, & Chief Marker 
Stephanie's love of creative writing began at a young age when she placed second in a local young author’s competition. From then on, she was hooked on writing and sharing her ideas with others. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Arts in Education from Western Kentucky University. Her career path led her to become a full-time reading intervention teacher and author.
Logsdon, also known as “Chief Marker” for Baxter’s Corner, was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2020 she released her debut picture book, Gerome’s Rainbow, a story about acceptance. Soon after her second book was released, Who’s Who with Mr. McBoom, a story about the uniqueness and importance of families.
Stephanie is the mother of two active boys who love adventures. With her husband and children, Stephanie enjoys family walks, spending time reading books, and working out at Cyclebar! She is an active member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators).
Linda Baker
Author and Chief Pencil
Linda, a Louisville native, began her journey with the written word as an avid reader and then author. The route from reader to author saw Linda majoring in journalism in college, where she began her career as a reporter for a Wyoming newspaper. Putting her writing skills to work in the public relations arena to develop mission-focused messages for a variety of public and private organizations, and also served as a marketer for nationally-touring Broadway shows.
THE ARTIST
Mary Ellen Stottmann
Illustrator, Chief Crayon and Founder
Born in New Mexico, raised in New Jersey then to Louisville, Ky as a teen. Her art education began earlier than most. By the age of ten she was oil painting with a style that is still apparent today. After studying art in Paris she moved to New York City to major in graphic design at the internationally recognized Parson School of Design. She began her professional career working for an advertising studio. Then
co-founded a “Printing While You Wait” company which eventually led to her owning a digital offset printing company. Her career in printing allowed her to continue designing material for her clients, some of which is still being used today.
One of the many opportunities offset print gave her was an expert understanding of color and how it reacts by overlapping intensity. After retiring in 2005, Mary Ellen began oil painting, taking a very graphic approach to her style.
HER STORY
After the birth of her first grandson Baxter, she realized the important connection she had to her great-great-grandfather and her family’s heritage. Her mission in retirement became passing down family values to others.
A corner in Baxter’s nursery was created where wonderful paintings and animal puppets of all kinds lived. Hours were spent telling stories about his animal friends and learning shapes and colors from the paintings. Today the legacy and vision live on through Baxter’s Corner books, puppets and wall art.
The introductory book, WHO’S WHO WITH MR. MCBOOM, focuses on diverse families and introduces the eight main characters. Giving families the opportunity to speak to their values by asking questions and engaging in an activity after the story. Caretakers could be surprised where their imagination and conversations lead them. These social opportunities encourage children to make positive choices and equip them with the tools they need to be emotionally responsible as they grow.
Building Character is Child’s Play®