Erin Entrada Kelly received the 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, the 2017 APALA Award for The Land of Forgotten Girls, and the 2016 Golden Kite Honor Award for Blackbird Fly, among other honors. She is a New York Times bestseller whose work has been translated into several languages. Her fifth book and first fantasy, Lalani of the Distant Sea, received five starred reviews and is a Junior Library Guild Selection.

In 2018, Hello, Universe and You Go First were both acquired for adaptation. Hello, Universe is being adapted by Netflix, and You Go First is being adapted for the stage.

Erin is also a short story writer. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. She has a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and liberal arts from McNeese State University and an MFA from Rosemont College.

Erin was raised in Louisiana, but now lives in Delaware.

Erin is mestiza and identifies as Filipina-American. Her mother is Visayan. You can learn more about Erin by visiting Frequently Asked Questions. You can even take a peek at her notebook.

QUICK BITS!

• Birthday: September 5, 1977
• Sign: Virgo
• Favorite Word: Peculiar
• Favorite Season: Winter
• Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff
• Pronoun: She/Her
• Pet: Marlowe the Gentleman Mutt
• Favorite Color: Red
• Second Favorite Color: Yellow
• Favorite Book: The One and Only Ivan
• Second Favorite Book: When You Reach Me
• Favorite Place to Write: The library
• Favorite Place to Get Books: The library
• Favorite Place: The library
• Pet Peeve: Mean People
• Favorite Kind of Movies: Scary
• Favorite Scary Movie: Poltergeist
• Favorite Part of School Visits: Q&A
• Favorite Beatle: George
• Favorite Snack: Peanut Butter
• Favorite Drink: Coffee
• Second Favorite Drink: Diet Pepsi
• Favorite Sports Team: Philadelphia Eagles