Isabel Quintero was born and raised in Southern California. Her love of reading and writing comes from her mother reading to her before she went to bed, and from the teachers and professors who encouraged her to keep writing. Her love of chorizo and carne asada tacos comes from her dad grilling on Sundays during summertime. A former elementary school library tech, she now teaches community college and works as a freelance writer for the Arts Connection of San Bernardino. A get-your-hands-dirty literary junkie, Quintero works as events coordinator for Orange Monkey Publishing, is assistant editor for Tin Cannon, a literary journal, and sits on the board for PoetrIE, a non-profit literary arts organization. She still lives in SoCal and enjoys going on adventures with her wonderful husband, Fernando. Gabi, A Girl in Pieces,  Isabel’s debut novel, is a Morris Award finalist,  has received starred reviews from SLJ, Kirkus, Booklist and PW and has selected as a best book of the year by SLJ, Kirkus, Booklist, and NYPL.