Malinda Lo is the author of several young adult novels including most recently the sci-fi duology Adaptation and Inheritance. Adaptation was a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of 2013 and a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Her first novel, Ash, a retelling of Cinderella with a lesbian twist, was a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Andre Norton Award and the Lambda Literary Award, and was a Kirkus Best YA Book of 2009. Malinda is co-founder with Cindy Pon of Diversity in YA, a project that celebrates diversity in young adult books. Before she became a novelist, Malinda was an economics major, an editorial assistant, a graduate student, and an entertainment reporter. She believes that the truth is out there. Her website is www.malindalo.com.

(Photo by Patty Nason)