Announcing Portland LeakyLit Authors

LEIGH BARDUGO Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times bestselling author of Shadow and Bone, the first book in The Grisha Trilogy and will be joining us for her first LeakyCon. The second novel, Siege and Storm, will be released June 4. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Yale University. When she isn’t writing, Leigh works as a make-up artist in Los Angeles under the name L.B. Benson, and sometimes sings with her band, Captain Automatica. You can find out more about Leigh on her website, leighbardugo.com.

COE BOOTH Another LeakyCon first-timer, Coe Booth has written three YA novels: Tyrell, Bronxwood and Kendra. The novels focus on teenagers in the Bronx, where Booth herself grew up, and the challenges that they face. Coe has an MA in Psychology and an MFA in creative writing from The New School. She is currently working on a book for slightly younger children. To read more about Coe (and to check out a chapter of Bronxwood!) visit coebooth.com.

HEATHER  BREWER Heather Brewer writes young adult novels featuring vampires and other fantastic things. Heather didn’t start trying to publish until after she had married and had a baby, but she is now the author of the New York Times bestselling The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod and The Slayer Chronicles. “Auntie” Heather doesn’t have fans, she has minions, and dresses up in costume for Renaissance Fairs. This will be her first LeakyCon. You can read more about Heather on her website, heatherbrewer.com.

ANDREA CREMER Andrea Cremer is the New York Times bestselling author of the werewolf-centric Nightshade trilogy, and most recently released the prequel, Rise. She received her PhD from the University of Minnesota and when she isn’t writing, she does yoga and pairs her books with playlist. Her book Invisibility, which she co-authored with David Levithan, will be released May 7. To learn more about Andrea and her writing, visit andreacremer.com.

MATT DE LA PEÑA Matt de la Peña is a young adult novelist and author of Ball Don’t Lie, which was adapted into a film starring Ludacris, Nick Cannon and Emilie de Ravin, and his most recent illustrated A Nation’s Hope-The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis. Matt went to University of the Pacific on a basketball scholarship then got his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University. He now teaches creative writing at NYU and Vermont College. This will be Matt’s first LeakyCon. To read more on Matt and to check out his books, visit mattdelapena.com.

LEV GROSSMAN Lev Grossman is the New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians, likened to an adult Harry Potter by the New York Times, and the sequel The Magician King. Lev is a journalist and writes for Time as a book critic and lead technology writer. He has also written for The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, among other publications. Portland will be Lev’s second LeakyCon after joining us for LeakyCon 2012 in Chicago. To read more about Lev visit his website, levgrossman.com.

EMILY JENKINS Emily Jenkins, who sometimes writes under the pseudonym E. Jenkins, writes books for kids, young adults and grown ups too. She’s the author of National Book Award finalist Disreputable History, which she published under E. Lockhart, and her most recent Real Live Boyfriends. She also co-wrote How to Be Bad with Lauren Myracle and Sarah Mlynowski. Emily grew up in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA. She got her PhD in 19th Century English Literature from Columbia University in New York, where she currently lives. She loves to make videos, and sometimes they’re book related. For more info on Emily and her books, you can check out emilyjenkins.com and emilylockhart.com.

DAVID LEVITHAN David Levithan, author of Boy Meets Boy and most recently Every Day, will be joining us again in Portland after hanging out with us at Leaky 2011. David is also co-author of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, which was adapted into a film starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings in 2008 and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green. He is a two-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award, which honors LGBT works. David also works as an editorial director for Scholastic and is the founder of Push imprint, which is dedicated to finding new voices for teen novels. His next novel written with Andrea Cremer, Invisibility, will be released May 7. To read more about David and his work, visit davidlevithan.com.

BARRY LYGA Barry Lyga is the YA author of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl and I Hunt Killers, whose sequel Game is being released April 16. A Leaky first-timer, Barry graduated with a degree in English from Yale University worked in the comic book industry for ten years before he began publishing his novels. He has also written a graphic novel, Mangaman, illustrated by Colleen Doran. You can read more about Barry and his novels at his website, barrylyga.com.

LAUREN MYRACLE Leaky first-timer Lauren Myracle is the author of the best-selling Internet Girl series (ttyl, ttfn, l8r, gr8), as well as the more recent Flower Power series. She also co-authored How to Be Bad with E. Lockhart and Sarah Mlynowski. Lauren grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, taught in Japan and got her MA in English literature from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont University. Her website is temporarily down, but you can check her out on Twitter at twitter.com/LaurenMyracle.

STEPHANIE PERKINS Stephanie Perkins is the author of Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door and soon Isla and the Happily Ever After, which comes out this fall. This will be her third LeakyCon after joining us for LeakyCon 2011 and 2012. She is married to Wizard Rocker Jarrod of Gred and Forge, and believes all books and movies need more kissing. Read more about Stephanie on her website, stephanieperkins.com.

LAINI TAYLOR Laini Taylor is the author of the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch: Three Times and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, which is currently in preproduction for a film with Universal Studios. She has a degree in English from UC Berkeley and studied illustration at California College of Arts & Crafts. Laini attended LeakyCon 2012 in Chicago and is joining us again this year in Portland, where she currently lives. More information on Laini can be found at her website, lainitaylor.com.

ROBIN WASSERMAN Robin Wasserman is the author of the New York Times bestselling Seven Deadly Sins series, The Waking Dark and The Book of Blood and Shadow. She used to edit children’s books, and as a result knows too much about Scooby Doo and Dragon Ball Z. Robin is the co-director of LeakyLit with Maureen Johnson. Robin now lives in New York. As her first job after graduating from Harvard University, she was sent to find a mini red carpet to roll out for J.K. Rowling’s arrival. She never found one. To read more about Robin, vist robinwasserman.com or follow her at twitter.com/robinwasserman.