Mike Bender

Mike Bender is an award-winning children's book author, co-founder of Awkward Family Photos, and screenwriter whose credits include "Not Another Teen Movie." He created the website AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com with childhood friend, Doug Chernack, in May 2009 after seeing an awkward vacation photo hung in his parent's house. Together, they wrote the #1 New York Times bestselling "Awkward Family Photos" book series and children's picture book, "Everything Is Awkward."

Mike lives in California his own awkward family and has written the Junior Library Guild selection, "The Book About Nothing," and most recently, "The End Is Just The Beginning," which is inspired by his own healing journey with Lyme disease and teaches kids to see endings as transformational.

His upcoming "The Most Serious Fart" with legendary Highlights illustrator, Chuck Dillon, comes out October 3rd, 2023!!!

You can follow him on Instagram @iammikebender