We’re a group of Critique Partners who came together through our love of reading, writing, and fandoms. Since we’re all in different stages of this wild journey we call publishing, we started this blog to share our diverse experiences.

Find a complete list of all of our books HERE.

Akshaya Raman moved every year until she was fourteen–sometimes to different parts of the same town, sometimes to different cities, sometimes to different countries all together. As a result, she developed two superpowers: being able to sleep or read pretty much anywhere (though now that she’s older she gets sick reading in moving vehicles). When she’s not writing, she loves to travel and try new (vegetarian) cuisines. She lives in California with an actual scaredy cat where she nerds out over all things space and watches way too much TV. She is represented by Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners. Her debut YA fantasy THE IVORY KEY is out with Clarion/Harper. Find her online: Twitter | Website

Ashley Burdin has loved reading since before she could read. No, seriously: she memorized a picture book at the age of two and tricked everyone into thinking she was a reading prodigy. She’s been telling stories and tricking people ever since (but she promises she’s not an old man). Ashley lives in Brooklyn where she works in publishing and writes young adult fiction in her spare time. When not writing or reading (yes, she eventually learned), she enjoys nerding out over Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and K-dramas (to name a few), drinking too much coffee, and valiantly searching for the best donut in New York. Find her online: Twitter | Website

Axie Oh is a graduate of the University of California-San Diego where she studied Korean history and creative writing. Her debut novel, REBEL SEOUL, was released Fall 2017 from Tu Books with a companion novel titled ROGUE HEART (Tu Books). She received her MFA from Lesley University in Writing for Young People. Her obsessions include: her new puppy, Toro, stationery supplies and milk tea. She is represented by Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. She is also the New York Times Best-selling author of XOXO, HarperTeen, and THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA, Feiwel & Friends. Find her online: Twitter | Website

 

Ella Dyson is Writer’s Block Party’s resident Australian—she met the whole group online, and hopes they aren’t all actually creepy old guys in basements. By day, she works as a freelance editor and artist. But by night she works on YA fantasy novels that she hopes will eventually be adored by millions. As a result of frequent boredom and procrastination, she has also developed expertise on a range of delightfully obscure topics, including the female agents of SOE (look them up—they’re fascinating), fencing, and the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Added bonus: she can name all the kings and queens of England since 1066 (feel free to be impressed). Ella is also an artist, and can frequently be persuaded to draw peoples’ characters. Find her online: Twitter

Kat Cho used to hide books under the bathroom sink and then sneak in there to read after bedtime. Her parents pretended not to know. This helped when she decided to write a dinosaur time-travel novel at the tender age of nine. Sadly, that book was not published. She loves anything that encourages nerding out, including reading, blogging, K-dramas, K-pop and anime. Kat is the co-host of the Write or Die Podcast, a podcast that interviews authors about the struggles of getting published and maintaining an author career. She writes YA sci-fi and fantasy and is represented by Beth Phelan at Gallt & Zacker. Kat is the New York Times and international best-selling author of WICKED FOX  and VICIOUS SPIRITS (Putnam/Penguin), and ONCE UPON A K-PROM (Disney). Find her online: Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Website

Katy Rose Pool is a lifelong Californian and unapologetic nerd. The daughter of a screenwriter, Katy learned how to type at age six so she could write stories as fast as they came to her. She graduated UC Berkeley with a degree in history, focusing on 19th century America. When she’s not waiting for her BART train, Katy can be found fixing websites in order to support a serious coffee habit. She writes YA fantasy about ruthless girls and boys with too many feelings, and is represented by Alexandra Machinist & Hillary Jacobson at ICM Partners. Her debut YA Fantasy The Age of Darkness trilogy (THERE WILL COME A DARKNESS & AS THE SHADOW RISES & INTO THE DYING LIGHT) is out now from Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan). Find her online: Twitter

Mara Fitzgerald writes YA fantasy about unlikable female characters and girls who don’t do what they’re supposed to do. She is a biologist by day and spends entirely too much time looking at insects under a microscope. She was born near Disney World and now lives near Graceland, which is almost as good. She is represented by Carrie Pestritto at the Laura Dail Literary Agency. Her debut YA Fantasy BEYOND THE RUBY VEIL is out now with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Find her online: Twitter | Website

Meg RK wrote her first book when she was four years old about a giant heart that destroyed a city. Meg likes to think this story is a metaphor for all of her current and future work. An avid lover of pop culture, Meg enjoys music, television, books, and any good One Direction conspiracy theories. In an alternate universe, Meg received her masters in Media Studies by writing about young adult authors, readers, and social media. Don’t ask how Meg ended up in this timeline, she’s sworn to intergalactic secrecy.

 Melody Simpson writes young adult fiction and non-fiction pop culture. She is a former intern at The Bent Agency, and co-creator of YA Runs A 5K. She blogs about TV, movies, books, and broadway at Hollywood the Write Way. When not writing or reading, she can be found in the audience of a Broadway show, walking around the exhibit floor of conventions, or at home watching Netflix. She is represented by JL Stermer at New Leaf Literary. Find her online: Twitter | Website | Melanin in YA

 

Past/Guest Contributors

Madeleine Colis is a YA writer from Chicago who lives in Australia and helps with the Boston Teen Author Festival—so she is perpetually time zone confused. She went to Northwestern University, where she studied English and began her YA fantasy series during her study abroad in Madrid, over espresso and sangria. Back in Chicago, she continued her novels and found writer friends online. Eventually, she met them in person, and moved across the globe to stay with one—not creepy old men, yay! She now lives in Melbourne: writing, learning martial arts, and failing to resist pretty foreign edition books. Find her online: Twitter | Website

Amanda Foody has always believed imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After spending her childhood longing to attend Hogwarts, she now loves to write about immersive settings and characters grappling with insurmountable destinies. Her first novel is DAUGHTER OF THE BURNING CITY, (Harlequin TEEN/Harper Collins). Her writing is represented by Whitney Ross at Irene Goodman Literary Agency. She currently studies and works in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by her many siblings and many books. She is the New York Times and Indie best-selling author of middle grade adventure THE ACCIDENTAL APPRENTICE (Margaret K. McElderry Books), YA dark fantasy ALL OF US VILLAINS (Tor Teen), and The Shadow Game trilogy (Harlequin TEEN/Harper Collins). Find her online: Instagram | Website

C.L. Herman is the New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestselling author of novels about magic, monsters, and growing up, including the All of Us Villains  duology, The Devouring Gray duology, and The Drowning Summer.

They are the New York Times and Indie best-selling author of THE DEVOURING GRAY (Disney) and ALL OF US VILLAINS (Tor Teen). Find them online: Instagram | Website