AUTHORS

Check out the authors who are gathering at the 2025 Festival to celebrate Pittsburgh’s literary community! Learn more about each author by clicking on their name.

  • ADULT ROMANTIC COMEDY

    Laura Piper Lee loves making people laugh, flirting, and avoiding exercise, so writing romantic comedies curled up on her cozy couch is a perfect career choice for her. Elle Magazine named her debut novel Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair one of 2024's best romances, and her second novel, Zoe Brennan, First Crush, received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly.

  • DOMESTIC SUSPENSE

    Before turning to fiction, Aggie worked as a newspaper reporter, covering cops, courts, and trials, with a healthy dose of the mundane mixed in. Her writing has appeared in newspapers such as The Boston Globe and The Washington Post. She lives in the suburbs just over the Washington D.C. line with her husband, two children, cat, and dog.

  • FICTION

    Jennifer Haigh's first novel, MRS. KIMBLE, won the PEN Hemingway Award for debut fiction. Her latest, MERCY STREET, won the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award. Her work has been recognized by the Guggenheim Foundation and the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and has been published in eighteen languages. Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, she now lives in Boston.

  • FICTION - ROMANCE

    As a former entertainment reporter for Newsday and the New York Daily News, Kirthana Ramisetti has written her fair share of stories about the lives (and deaths) of the rich and famous. She has a master’s degree in creative writing from Emerson College and has published work in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, TODAY.com and elsewhere.

  • HORROR - FANTASY - THRILLER - MYSTERY - HISTORICAL

    Alex Grecian is the NYT bestselling author of eight novels, including Red Rabbit and its sequel Rose of Jericho, as well as many novellas, ebooks, and short stories. He is the co-creator of the comic book series Proof, which is currently in development as a Fox TV series. He lives in the Midwest with his wife and son.

  • HORROR - THRILLER - SUSPENSE

    Nat Cassidy was named one of the "writers shaping horror’s next golden age" by Esquire. His novels, including Mary, Nestlings, and Rest Stop, have been featured in best-of lists from NPR, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, the Chicago Review of Books, the NY Public Library, Amazon, and more. His award-winning horror plays have been produced across the country, including Off-Broadway and the Kennedy Center.

  • YOUNG ADULT

    Sharon G. Flake has sold over a million copies of her books worldwide, inspiring young readers through novels, chapter books, and illustrated works. She has received multiple Coretta Scott King Author Honor Awards, NAACP Image Award nominations, and was a Kirkus Award nominee. Her impactful work has influenced many writers in teen literature.

  • PICTURE BOOKS

    Daniel Errico is a bestselling kids author and the creator of the award-winning Hulu Original series The Bravest Knight. His latest book, Don't Hug the Quokka!, was named to CBC's Kids Favorites and Teacher Favorites Award Lists. Errico’s works have been featured by the UN, PBS, Good Morning America, and The Today Show. His site, freechildrenstories.com, is visited by millions of readers per year.

  • MYSTERY

    Linda Castillo is the author of the New York Times bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. She is the recipient of numerous awards including an Edgar Award, the Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover. Her books have sold over four million copies worldwide and been translated into fourteen languages.