True Friends Indeed

Ralph Tufo is a retired college professor and has been a professional musician for over 35 years. His band, The Squeezebox Stompers, tours throughout New England. In addition to writing two other books in the Seemore the Seagull Tales Series, Seemore the Seagull and Brotherly Love, he has written several short plays, over 50 songs, and 3 full-length musicals.

Jory Mason always aspired to illustrate a children's book like her grandfather, John R. Neill, the Royal Illustrator of 34 volumes of Oz. Jory is an accomplished art director/graphic designer who is now focusing on her first love, painting. She is enthusiastic about teaching art and sharing new creative ideas. She is an award-winning painter exhibiting in Boston, New York, North Carolina, and New Mexico. Her work has been showcased in "Strokes of Genius 8: Exploring Texture!" by North Light Books. The Contemporary Art Curator Magazine's, 2021 "Collector's Vision International Art Award" was given to Jory as "an artist who has achieved a body of work of major cultural significance." She attended L'Instituto D'Arte in Italy where her first solo exhibition completely sold out. She later studied at the New England School of Art/Design and Mass College of Art. She has attained "Master Pastel Painter" status with the International Association of Pastel Societies and has led workshops both nationally and abroad. Jory also illustrated the second book in the Seemore the Seagull Tales Series, Brotherly Love.