

-NEW VISIONS AWARD WINNER - APALA HONOR AWARD - PATERSON PRIZE - JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION 2015-
-WHITNEY AWARD 2016 - BEST OF UTAH READERS PICK AWARD FOR BEST FICTION 2015-
VALYNNE E. MAETANI

ABOUT ME
Valynne E. Maetani (pronounced Vuh-lin Mah-eh-tah-nee) grew up in Utah and obtained a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In a former life, she was a project manager and developed educational software for children with learning disabilities. Currently, she is a full-time writer. She is a member of the We Need Diverse Books team and is dedicated to promoting diversity in children's literature because every child should grow up believing his or her story deserves to be told. Her debut novel, Ink and Ashes, is the winner of the New Visions Award 2013, a Junior Library Guild 2015 selection, and Best Fiction Book in Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah Arts Award for 2015. She lives in Salt Lake City.
Other Trivia:
Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Favorite Snacks: Hot Tamales, Caramel, Dirty brand Salt & Vinegar chips, anything Peppermint (especially ice cream), Big Hunk candy bars, butter toffee peanuts
Favorite Foods: Sushi, Eggplant Parmigiana, Green Curry
Favorite Movies: Princess Bride, To Kill a Mockinbird, Die Hard