Dr. Gina Burkart is the Learning Specialist at Clarke University where she directs the Learning Center and teaches College Study Strategy and English courses. Prior to her work at Clarke, she worked as an Assistant Professor of English at Saginaw Valley State University and as the coordinator of the Reading and Learning Center at the University of Northern Iowa, where she also taught English courses for over 11 years. Her research focuses on first-year students, post-secondary literacy and retention. She is the author of A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter (2005, InterVarsity Press), Finding Purpose in Narnia: A Journey with
Prince Caspian (2008, Paulist Press, and Finding Meaning in Narnia: A Voyage on the Dawn Treader (2010, Nimble Books, 16 Weeks to College Success (2014, Kendall Hunt Publishing).
She has been interviewed nationally and frequently presents about using literature such as Harry Potter and Narnia to nurture Christian values and to foster inter-generational connections. She is featured on About.com for her work with Harry Potter and Christian Teens. She is also a frequent writer for Crosswalk.com.
Connie Neal (B.A. in Communication, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA) is an author and speaker who is an expert on the intersection of Christianity and pop culture. She is widely known for her books What's a Christian to Do with Harry Potter? (Waterbrook Press), featured in Newsweek, Christian Parenting Today and Today's Christian Woman; and The Gospel According to Harry Potter (Westminster John Knox Press)--featured in Entertainment Weekly and Time magazine.
Walking Tall in Babylon: Raising Children to Be Godly and Wise in a Perilous World (Waterbrook Press) was published in 2004. Some of her other books are Holding on to Heaven While Your Husband Goes Through Hell, Holding on to Heaven While Your Friend Goes Through Hell, Spiritual Renewal Bible, A Joy I'd Never Known (coauthored with Jan Dravecky), The Worth of a Man (coauthored with Dave Dravecky), The Kids' Devotional Bible, Dancing in the Arms of God, and The Life Recovery Bible.
