diff --git a/_data/authors.yml b/_data/authors.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b9a1c35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_data/authors.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+####
+# map author names to github 
+##  used for avatar pics
+
+Gerald Bauer:
+  github: geraldb
+
+Joel Glovier:
+  github: jglovier
+
+Jason Long:
+  github: jasonlong
+
+Diana Mounter: 
+  github: broccolini
+
+Jason Costello: 
+  github: jasoncostello
+
+Matt Graham:
+  github: mattgraham