Elle Blair’s obsession with young adult fiction began with a reading challenge, an effort to spark her son’s interest in books. Now she writes contemporary YA with elements of romance and sometimes, magical realism, and blogs about the books and authors she loves. Elle lives in Virginia with her husband, two teenagers and a tuxedo cat named Harley.

Kat used to hide books under the bathroom sink and then sneak in there to read after bedtime. Her parents pretended not to know. This helped when she decided to write a dinosaur time-travel novel at the tender age of nine. Sadly, that book was not published. Currently, Kat lives in Chicago where she writes YA sci-fi and fantasy. She’s always willing to take a jumping photo.

Julie Hammerle writes young adult novels. She the author of THE SOUND OF US (Entangled TEEN, 2016). A graduate of Butler University with degrees in secondary education and Latin with a minor in music, Julie lives in Chicago with her family and enjoys reading, cooking, and watching all the television.

Kathryn (K.E.) Ormsbee writes books for kids and teens. She is the Young Adult author of THE GREAT UNKNOWABLE END (Simon & Schuster, 2018), TASH HEARTS TOLSTOY (S&S), and LUCKY FEW (S&S), and the Middle Grade author of THE HOUSE IN POPLAR WOOD (Chronicle, Fall 2018) and THE WATER AND THE WILD series (Chronicle). She likes clothes from the 60s, music from the 70s, and movies from the 80s. She is from the 90s.

Aren Sabers writes fiction for young adults. She favors the fantastical or mysterious, and loves dogs, yoga, and doing handstands in public places. She is originally from New Mexico but now lives in Minneapolis with her two children, one husband, and a gazillion books.

By day, Pasha’s a homeschooling mama to three rambunctious boys. By night, she weaves dark and magical stories for YA & MG. She lives with her husband and boys in a teensy Arizona town populated more so by ghosts than humans.

Ashley Woodfolk graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in English and her life-long love of books led her straight to the publishing industry. She's a member of the CBC Diversity Committee and markets books for children and teens at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and pit bull puppy, Winnie. Her debut young adult novel, THE BEAUTY THAT REMAINS, is due out in Spring 2018 from Delacorte/Random House Children's books.

Scarlett Cole is a writer of contemporary romantic suspense. Her debut novel, THE STRONGEST STEEL, book one of the SECOND CIRCLE series, was published by St. Martin's Press in July 2015. A true city-dweller, she considers Toronto and Manchester home, and likes to set her books in vibrant locations such as Miami and Los Angeles.

Sherri L. Smith has previously written two historical fiction novels for Simon & Schuster UK. When not writing she spends time with her family, three rescue dogs and restores vintage furniture that would otherwise be destined for the dump. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada where the long, cold winters nurture her dark side. FOLLOW ME DOWN (Forge Books, March 2017) is her first thriller.

Katherine Fritz is the blogger behind the viral internet sensations I Am Begging My Mother Not To Read This Blog and Ladypockets. When she's not hunkered down behind her laptop trying to change the world or tell a good joke, she's a Philadelphia-based costume designer and teaching artist with a passion for telling stories.

Shaheen Peerbhai a chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and London. She is the winner of multiple culinary scholarships awarded by The James Beard Foundation (2011, 2015) and The Culinary Trust (2011, 2013). She is currently pursing a Diploma in Superior Culinary Arts at The Alain Ducasse Institute in France and is working on her first cookbook with Sterling due in Spring 2017. She conducts baking classes and blogs at PurpleFoodie.com.