Meet the Author
Raised in rural Canadian town of Killaloe, Ontario, with a population of 700 people, Kaylie Globke began playing hockey at age seven leading to a lifelong passion for the sport. Skating on outdoor rinks and joining teams, often as the only girl until age 14, she saw the game evolve sparking her competitive drive. At age 15, she joined the German Black Eagles to play in her first Opeongo Heritage Cup tournament in her local community of Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Globke has returned to play in this annual event since. Years later, she accepted an offer to play for Carleton University’s women’s varsity hockey team while obtaining a bachelor’s degree in communications. In her fourth year, she joined Athletes in Action, a Christian organization led by a couple who shared the good news of Jesus. Globke accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, making a life-changing impact through the game she loves most. After graduation, she went on to play hockey overseas in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) Division 1 for one year. Not long after her return, she accepted an offer to work on one of North America’s largest infrastructure projects, the Gordie Howe International Bridge with the Communications and Stakeholder Relations teams. During this time, she met her husband, Al, while the two volunteered with Hockey Ministries International at Adrian College, home of the Bulldogs. Both Globke’s personal and professional passions have launched her into this next chapter as a children’s picture book author. She resides in Michigan with her husband, two sons and dog, with aspirations to have more children in their hockey line-up. She currently plays in the top division of the Michigan Senior Women’s Hockey League for the Bulldogs. The teams in Tuck the Puck highlight Globke’s journey between two nations that hold special meaning in her life. Her family, hometown roots and team inspired Tuck the Puck.
Meet the Illustrator
Valeshka Escalona was born in Caracas, Venezuela, the third of five children. She was raised by her mother, a university professor and voice-over actress, and her father, a manager at the local power company who worked extensively as a drafter before ascending into management. Her artistic calling was undeniable since she was young. She wouldn’t stop painting on the walls of her home, except when taking breaks to watch Disney films on VHS. Unable to stop vandalizing her families home, Escalona’s father decided to enroll her in painting lessons, a pivotal moment embracing her skillset. Not only did she stop painting on the walls of their home, she won her first award at age eight by entering her art in a competition featuring a new mascot for the city’s water company (Hidrocapital). She painted her first mural at age 13 in partnership with other students at school, and at age 16 her work was profiled in the Contemporary Art Museum. Wishing to study art in college, but encouraged to take a middle ground route, Escalona’s parents enrolled her in the most prestigious fashion design institute in the country, Brivil, where designers such as, Carolina Herrera, are among the alumni. After completing this degree, Escalona launched a swimwear brand, Kiûdooü Vontage, featuring fabrics with hand painted patterns made entirely by herself, becoming highly sought after. She then transitioned into real estate, receiving social media and analytics training, building brands working in graphic design and making textile and editorial illustrations. She decided to pursue her original passion, a career in art, enrolling for the major and to her excitement, was accepted at the Universidad Central de Venezuela. With difficulties in her country, she made the choice to become a digital nomad and accepted a remote position for a company in Costa Rica where she met her husband. Although Escalona continued to work as a project manager and designer, she never stopped painting. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to follow her dreams launching into her next chapter as a children's picture book illustrator, specializing in character design. She currently resides in Spain, where she lives with her husband and daughter, as she continues to paint while watching Disney movies, her foundations remaining at the heart of her work.
