Staff | Illumination Arts Publishing

Meet the Staff

	John M. Thompson John Thompson, our president, began his eclectic career as a Certified Public Accountant. Named the Outstanding Graduate in the Business Department at Washington State University, he earned an M.S. Degree in Accounting from Arizona State University. Following a business career that included forming a CPA practice as well as business/real estate acquisition and operation, he joined with Marisa Lovesong to launch Illumination Arts in 1987. After publishing two metaphysical titles, they decided to specialize in children's books. John also serves as CEO of Inspire Every Child, a charitable foundation which provides inspiring children's books to kids in need. He can be reached at john@illumin.com.
	Ruth Thompson Illumination Arts is truly a family affair. Ruth Thompson is our Editorial Director and John’s mother. A retired librarian of Kelso High School in Kelso, WA, she now works from her home office in Longview, WA. Ruth graduated from Whitman College with a degree in English Literature and took all the theatre courses they offered. Her thespian talents have won her many awards for both acting and directing. Ruth’s husband was the principal at R.A. Long High School in Longview. “I have four wonderful children, including John, for whom I still work at age 90,” Ruth says. "I also have six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren."
	Kimmie Lynn Thompson Vice President- Promotions Kim is originally from Southern California. She is a published author of three books: Home is in Your Heart, The True Love of Aphrodite and Hercules, and Dancing with Mother Earth. Kim also has a background in community media, where she produced and hosted television and radio programs in Northern California. While living in Sacramento, she launched her children’s dance company, Creative Expressions. This company facilitated programs where children were able to perform their recitals on community television and senior centers. Kim practices various healing modalities, including Herbology, Soul Retrieval work, Soul channeling, Native American drum journeying, and Acutonic tuning forks. As a workshop coordinator for both children and adults, she utilizes these modalities when coaching individuals to connect with their true inner selves. Kim is the mother of one daughter, Melissa Ann, and two grandsons Kaleii and Kalani. She can be reached at kim@illumin.com.
	Kelley Frodel Kelley first joined Illumination Arts as an editorial intern and then decided to stay on as Assistant Editor. She graduated cum laude from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Creative Writing and loves nothing more than to sit down at a café with her journal and a pen, or curl up in a comfy chair with a book. Children's books hold a particularly special place in her heart, so she cannot wait to share the Illumination Arts collection with her little niece Lily. After visiting Rome in 2009, Kelley yearns to travel and see more of the world, though she will always call the verdant Puget Sound her home. She can be contacted at kelley@illumin.com.
	Molly Murrah Molly Murrah is our independent graphic designer. The owner of Murrah & Company of Kirkland, WA, she has designed all but four of our inspiring children's books. A graduate of Bucknell University, Molly was Art & Production Manager at Millennium Design Communications in New York City before moving to Seattle in 1982. In addition to the many awards her Illumination Arts titles have won, Molly has been honored for her innovative approach on a wide variety of design projects. She can be reached at mollym@murrahco.com and additional samples of her work can be viewed at www.murrahco.com.