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.
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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.
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UPMARKET FICTION
M. L. Rio has been an actor, a bookseller, an academic, and a music writer. She holds an MA in Shakespeare studies and a PhD in English literature. She is the author of the internationally bestselling novel IF WE WERE VILLAINS and the USA Today bestselling novella GRAVEYARD SHIFT. Her next novel, HOT WAX, will be published by Simon & Schuster in September 2025.
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COZY FANTASY
S.L. Rowland is a cozy fantasy and LitRPG author known for crafting immersive worlds filled with adventure, heart, and a touch of humor. A lifelong gamer and fantasy enthusiast, he draws inspiration from tabletop RPGs, video games, and the fantastical. When he’s not writing, he enjoys weightlifting, hiking with his Shiba Inu, and enduring the heartbreak of being an Atlanta sports fan.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS - PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR
Zoje Stage is a USA Today & internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers (Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, Getaway) and psychological horror (Wonderland, Mothered). The AP selected My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, her first children's book, for their 2024 Holiday Gift Guide. Her books have been "best of the year" in Forbes Magazine, Library Journal, PopSugar, B&N, Book Riot, BookPage, and more.
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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.
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YA MYSTERY - FANTASY
Kaitlyn Cavalancia grew up devouring mystery and fantasy novels, certain that the right wardrobe would contain a door to another world. She's an orthodontist who fights crooked teeth during the day and writes books brimming with magic and murder at night. Currently she lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and dog. Mystery Royale is her first novel.
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MYSTERY
Vivien Chien, author of the Noodle Shop mysteries, was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she grew up in a mixed-race home. She found her love of the written word at an early age while writing stories about her classmates in elementary. When she’s not writing, Vivien enjoys frequenting local Asian restaurants, frolicking in bookstores, and searching for her next doughnut.
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ROMANCE
TARAH DEWITT writes character-driven romances filled with laughter and Big Feelings. She loves stories centered around perfectly imperfect characters, especially those with just enough trauma to keep them funny, without ever being forcefully cavalier. She's the National Bestselling author of Savor It, The Co-op, and Funny Feelings, with plenty more to come.
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MYSTERY - YOUNG ADULT
Rachel Ekstrom Courage is the author of Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery and the young adult thriller Nothing Bad Happens Here. By day, she's the founding partner at the Courage Literary agency and lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband (the author Nick Courage) and their dog Chaely. She's also the co-founder of Littsburgh ("Celebrating Literary Pittsburgh since 2015").
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BIO COMING SOON!
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CHILDREN’S GRAPHIC NOVEL
Rachel DiNunzio is a Western New York children’s author & illustrator all about kindness, creativity, and empowerment! Rachel’s book collection features a variety of titles from her NEW Forsynthia children’s graphic novel series, to the adventures of Olive the Chameleon Cat, and Scarlet’s Symphony!
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FANTASY
Sarah Beth Durst is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded an American Library Association Alex Award, as well as a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.
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AMERICAN GOTHIC - GOTHIC HORROR
Yvonne Battle-Felton is an author, academic, editor, podcaster, host, creative producer, and writer. Her debut, Remembered was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction (2019) and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize (2020). She lives in England where she is the Academic Director of creative writing at Cambridge University Institute of Continuing Education. Curdle Creek is her second novel
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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.
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HISTORICAL FICTION
Though born in Kansas City, Jan Ellen Kurth finds herself drawn to the rich history of northern Appalachia—especially New York State’s Southern Tier and Western Pennsylvania.
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HISTORICAL FICTION
Brianna Labuskes is the USA Today bestselling author of the historical novels The Librarian of Burned Books, The Lost Book of Bonn, and The Boxcar Librarian, as well as a dozen thrillers. For the first decade of her career, Brianna worked as a journalist for national news organizations covering politics and policy. She now resides in Pennsylvania with her dog, Jinx.
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HISTORICAL FICTION - SPECULATIVE FICTION
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shawntelle Madison has written over 15 titles. Her debut historical fiction book, The Fallen Fruit, was a USA Today bestseller and has been named one of Christian Science Monitor's Best Books of 2024, an LA Times' Most Anticipated Fall 2024 Book, an Essence Magazine's Top 20 Fall 2024 Read, and a Washington Post Noteworthy Book for Sept 2024.
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BIO COMING SOON!
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YOUNG ADULT FICTION - NEW ADULT FICTION - ROMANCE
Keith F. Miller, Jr., is the Lambda Award nominated author of the HarperCollins PRITTY novel series (Pritty, 2023; Togetha, 2025) and is an executive producer of Pritty: The Animation. Keith has an MS in educational psychology, focused on healing literacies and an MFA in creative writing from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY.
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PICTURE BOOK
Lissette Norman is an Afro-Dominican poet and author of the picture books My Feet Are Laughing, Plátanos Go with Everything and Abuela’s Library. She also co-authored the picture books, On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette, Until Someone Listens, and The Girl Who Sings to Bees. Lissette was born and raised in NYC. For more info, visit: www.lissettenorman.com.
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WOMEN’S CONTEMPORARY FICTION - URBAN LIT - STREET LIT
Julia Press Simmons is an award-winning author, poet, and playwright known for her powerful storytelling. With a passion for exploring love, resilience, and social issues, she captivates readers with raw and compelling narratives. A literary advocate and entrepreneur, Julia continues to inspire through her books, magazines, workshops, and community engagement.
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FICTION
Torrey Peters is the author of the bestselling novel Detransition, Baby (Random House, 2021), which was a finalist for the 2021 National Book Critics Circle Award for the John Leonard Prize, longlisted for the Women’s Prize, and was a Roxane Gay’s Audacious Book Club Pick. Her newest book, Stag Dance, is forthcoming from Random House in 2025.
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LITERARY FICTION - QUEER FICTION
Kristen Arnett is the author of the New York Times-bestselling novel Mostly Dead Things and the award-winning collection Felt in the Jaw. A queer writer based in Florida, she has written for The New York Times, Guernica,McSweeney’s, The Guardian, and elsewhere. She has been a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and a winner of the Ninth Letter Literary Award in Fiction and the Coil Book Award.
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NARRATIVE NONFICTION - HISTORY
WILL BARDENWERPER has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper’s and other outlets and is the author of The Prisoner in His Palace: Saddam Hussein, His American Guards, and What History Leaves Unsaid. He served as an Airborne Ranger–qualified infantry officer in Iraq.
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HISTORICAL FICTION - WOMEN’S FICTION
Marie Bostwick is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than twenty works of contemporary and historical fiction. Her latest novel, The Book Club For Troublesome Women, (Harper Muse, April 22 2025, received a starred review from Library Journal and has been included on Book Bub’s “Must Read Books for Spring” list. Marie lives in Washington state.
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ROMANTASY
Maxym M. Martineau is an associate creative director by day, and a fantasy author by night. When she’s not getting heated over broken hearts, she enjoys playing video games, binge-watching television shows, competing in just about any sport, and of course, reading.
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BIO COMING SOON!
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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.
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SAPPHIC/LESBIAN ROMANCE
Anne Shade (She/Her) has a passion for writing stories about women who love women across many genres with one common factor…BIPOC representation in all her main characters. Anne is the author of eight sapphic romances and has collaborated on two Bold Strokes Books anthologies. Her latest release The Blessed is a paranormal fantasy romance with plenty of Black Girl Magic.
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ROMANCE - ROMANTIC COMEDY
Tara Tai is an Asian American writer living in Boston, where they spend most of their time playing TTRPGs and romancing video game NPCs. They hold degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Business School. When they're not lost in imaginary worlds, they are annoying their wife Audrey and dog Gingko. Single Player is their debut novel.
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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.
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PITTSBURGH HISTORY
Charles Succop is the City Archivist. He is the historian behind the popular @pghthenandnow Instagram account.
Laura Zurowski publishes Mis.Steps: Our Missed Connections with Pittsburgh’s City Steps, a documentary project of Pittsburgh’s public stairways, parks, playgrounds, and trails.
Matthew Jacob worked for the City of Pittsburgh, mapping thousands of city assets, including steps, retaining walls, trails, bridges, and more.
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PICTURE BOOK
Katie Mazeika is an award-winning author and illustrator who loves creating stories based on real people and events. Katie is passionate about highlighting disabled voices in her work. She strongly believes all children should see themselves in books. Katie hopes her work as a creator and advocate creates a space to openly discuss disability and neurodiversity.
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ROMANTASY
Jade Presley is a pen name created to write romantasy stories that pair rich world building with characters that will make you blush and leave you thirsting for more. When not writing, I’m going on epic quests during game night or hanging with my family and Irish Wolfhound in my mountain home.
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ROMANTASY
CECY ROBSON is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, and an international bestselling author.
As a former registered nurse of twenty-three years, Cecy now spends her time creating magical worlds, heart-stopping romance, and young adult adventure.
You can usually find Cecy laughing, crying, and cheering on her characters as she pens her next story.
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FANTASY
Sydney J. Shields is a No. 1 Sunday Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestselling author. Her debut, The Honey Witch, is an Amazon Editors’ Choice for Best Fantasy and Best Romance, and a 2024 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee. She lives in Savannah, Georgia with her partner, their dog, and the bees.
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SPORTS HISTORY
Wayne Stewart has written 40 books, some displayed in the Hall Of Fame, some endorsed by Mike Ditka & Dick Groat. He wrote for magazines, such as Baseball Digest, SABR Research Journal, Hall of Fame newsletter and 11 Major League Baseball publications. He has written for 9 newspapers such as Mon Valley Independent and Altoona Mirror. He hosted a call-in radio show and pre-game programs on Notre Dame and the Cleveland Indians and was on ESPN as a baseball historian.
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EASY READER - PICTURE BOOKS - CHAPTER BOOKS
Kelly Starling Lyons is an award-winning author of more than 30 books for young readers. They include Caldecott Honor winner Going Down Home with Daddy, Christopher Award winner Tiara's Hat Parade, and Bank Street Best Books Sing a Song and My Hands Tell a Story. Kelly is also the author of three popular series - Jada Jones and Miles Lewis chapter books and the Ty's Travels easy readers.
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FICTION - NONFICTION - POETRY - CHILDREN’S FICTION
Omar Tyree, a celebrated and award-winning author, journalist, lecturer, poet, screenwriter, songwriter, and filmmaker from Philadelphia, was the youngest star of the 1990s Black Literature movement. A New York Times bestseller, an NAACP Image Award winner, and a Phillis Wheatley Literary Prize recipient for his body of work as the proclaimed “Godfather of Urban Fiction”—Tyree now discusses “The State of Black Writing,” his own career, and his outlook for the future.
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CONTEMPORARY FICTION - SPECULATIVE FICTION
Edward Underhill grew up in the suburbs of Wisconsin, where he could not walk to anything, so he had to make up his own adventures. He currently resides in California with his partner and a talkative black cat. His adult fiction debut, The In-Between Bookstore, was named a LibraryReads Top Ten pick and received a starred review from Booklist. He is also the author of books for young adults.
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HORROR - THRILLER - SUSPENSE
NAT CASSIDY is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of the acclaimed novels Mary (named one of the Best Horror Novels of All Time by Audible), Nestlings, and Rest Stop. Esquire described him as one "of the best horror writers of this generation" and among those "shaping horror's next golden age." His award-winning plays have been produced across the country, including Off-Broadway and the Kennedy Center. You've also maybe seen Nat guest-starring on shows like Law & Order, Blue Bloods, Bull, Quantico, FBI, and many others ... but that's a topic for a different bio. His newest novel, When the Wolf Comes Home, hits shelves in April 2025 and was called "a classic" by Stephen King.
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FICTION
Emma Copley Eisenberg is the author of the novel Housemates, which was a national bestseller and named a best book of the year by The Boston Globe, People, NBC, Them.Us, Autostraddle, and Kirkus Reviews, Electric Literature, and others. Her narrative nonfiction book, The Third Rainbow Girl, was a New York Times Notable Book and Editor’s Choice. She lives in Philadelphia.
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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.
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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.
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UPMARKET FICTION
Lori Gold is the author of ROMANTIC FRICTION, one of Zibby Media's "Most Anticipated Books of 2025." She is also the author of an adult historical and four novels for young adults (all under Lori Goldstein). She currently lives outside of Boston, where she fosters a writing community through her creative writing classes, book coaching, and writing retreats.
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CHILDREN’S FICTION - SHORT AND FLASH FICTION
Joy Givens is a Program Specialist for resettled refugee youth and the lucky mother of four small superheroes. She has published several award-winning short stories and writes children’s fiction to celebrate the fresh, fierce, fantastic side of life. Joy's debut picture book, THE UNSTOPPABLE JAMIE, called “Heartwarming and reassuring” by Kirkus Reviews, was released by Two Lions in Fall 2023.
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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.
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BIO COMING SOON!
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GEOGRAPHY - CARTOGRAPHY -NONFICTION
Stentor Danielson teaches geography and environmental studies at Slippery Rock University. Since 2015, they have run Mapsburgh, an online shop making paper cutout street maps and fantasy-style maps of real places. They currently share a house with one human partner, two feline bosses, and a classic midcentury Pittsburgh pink tile bathroom.
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THRILLER - MYSTERY
Alex Finlay is the bestselling author of several acclaimed novels, including the 2024 national bestseller, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME. His work regularly appears on best-of-the-year lists and has been translated into twenty-five languages. Nearly all of Alex’s books have been optioned or are in development for film and television. His next novel, PARENTS WEEKEND, releases in May 2025.
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MIDDLE GRADE - PICTURE BOOKS
Veera Hiranandani is the author of the Newbery Honor–winning The Night Diary and its companion novel, Amil and The After. She's also the author of How to Find What You're Not Looking For, winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, and several other books. She earned her MFA in creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College. She now teaches at The Vermont College of Fine Arts.
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GRAPHIC NOVEL - MIDDLE GRADE
Hena Khan writes award-winning children’s books in various formats. Hena’s bestselling novels include Amina’s Voice and More to the Story. She is the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara’s Rules, and Super You! series. Hena’s acclaimed picture books include Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and Behind My Doors.
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HISTORICAL FICTION
Ashton Lattimore is an award-winning author, journalist, and former lawyer. Her debut novel, All We Were Promised, was a Book of the Month Club pick, and an NPR and Washington Post best book of the year. As a journalist, she was editor-in-chief of Prism, a nonprofit news outlet whose work centers on communities of color. Her writing has also appeared in the Washington Post, Slate, and CNN.
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SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY - DYSTOPIA
CJ Rivera is an adult dystopian author navigating the realms of high-tech turmoil and stark reality. Before diving into speculative fiction, Rivera enjoyed a successful career as a Creative Producer. She has penned and produced captivating content for media giants such as CNBC and NBC Universal. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband, daughters, and her hydroponic garden.
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LITERARY FICTION - HUMOR
Paul Rudnick is the author of What is Wrong With You? His plays have been produced on and off Broadway and include Jeffrey, I Hate Hamlet, Regrets Only, and The New Century. He is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker; his writing has also appeared in Vogue, Esquire, Vanity Fair, and more. His screenplays include Addams Family Values, In & Out, Sister Act, and more.
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NONFICTION
Ed Simon is the Public Humanities Special Faculty in English at Carnegie Mellon University, and the author of over a dozen books, including "An Alternative History of Pittsburgh" and "The Soul of Pittsburgh."
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URBAN FICTION
Saundra is the acclaimed author of gritty, sexy crime fiction and street lit highlighting fearless females who hustle to get what they deserve. She grew up in Cleveland, Mississippi, and now lives with her husband and children in Indiana.
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CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
Phyllis Leyden-Alexander is Noah’s grandmother, whose adventures are captured in the book series, Adventures in Noahland. She writes to reduce discomfort others feel around kids with a disability. Her books have been used to develop lesson plans for early education instruction. Phyllis resides in PA with husband Louis. They share 6 incredibly perfect grandchildren of whom Noah is the youngest.
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YA FANTASY
F.T. Lukens is a NYT bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Otherworldly, Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After, In Deeper Waters and the forthcoming Love at Second Sight. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.
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PICTURE BOOKS - MIDDLE GRADE
Brittany J. Thurman is the author of Fly, a Golden Kite Award-winning book, Forever and Always, and the middle-grade detective series, Opal Watson: Private Eye. Born in Louisville, KY, her picture books have rep’d the children of her home state. She studied theater in London, England, and Dramatic Writing at CMU, before working in museums and libraries.
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FANTASY - LITERARY FICTION - RETELLINGS
Nghi Vo is the author of the novels Siren Queen and The Chosen and the Beautiful, as well as the acclaimed novellas of the Singing Hills Cycle, which began with The Empress of Salt and Fortune. The series entries have been finalists for the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Lambda Literary Award, and have won the Crawford Award, the Ignyte Award, and the Hugo Award.
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MIDDLE GRADE - CONTEMPORARY
Kyla Zhao is an award-winning author whose novels spotlight female empowerment and minority representation—winning praise from CBS, NBC, ABC, Vogue, Buzzfeed, etc. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and recognized by the California State Assembly, Kyla is also a sought-after speaker who has presented at Twitch, Pinterest, Oracle, etc. A Stanford ’21 alum, she now works at a Silicon Valley tech company.
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FICTION
RACHEL KHONG is the author of Goodbye, Vitamin, winner of the California Book Award for First Fiction. In 2018, she founded The Ruby, a work and event space for writers and artists in San Francisco’s Mission District. Her newest novel, Real Americans, was a New York Times bestseller. She lives in Los Angeles.
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DARK FANTASY ROMANCE - ROMANTASY
Shalini Abeysekara (she/her/hers) is a Canadian lawyer-turned-author. Her dark romantasies explore monstrosity—perceived and real—and center neurodivergent people of colour reckoning with themselves and their place in the world.
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BIO COMING SOON!
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MIDDLE GRADE - PICTURE BOOKS
Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times bestselling author best known for the creepy Caribbean trilogy: The Jumbies. She writes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, including the picture book BECAUSE CLAUDETTE, the middle grade AFRICAN ICONS, and her latest books MOKO MAGIC: CARNIVAL CHAOS and the sci-fi adventure BOY 2.0. More info at www.traceybaptiste.com.
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SCIENCE FICTION
Riley August is a speculative fiction writer, animal lover, nature walker, and all around nerd. When they aren’t writing stories about lonely voyages through space, you can find them playing video games or a myriad of TTRPGs. They live in New England with their cat and husband. The Last Gifts of the Universe is their debut novel.