Kelley Skovron was born in Ohio and raised jointly by a therapist, an attorney, a professor of criminal sociology, and a grape juice salesman. Tragically, Kelley was not able to enjoy that abundance of juice during their childhood, for they have been cursed since birth with a mysterious affliction that inexplicably prevents them from enjoying sweet foods or beverages of any kind.
Their most recent novel for kids, G.I. Joe Classified, was published in July, to be followed swiftly in September by The Ghost of Drowned Meadow because really, what is free time anyway?
Past adult projects include Gutter Mage (written as J.S. Kelley), and The Empire of Storms trilogy. The first book of that trilogy, Hope and Red, is currently available as a free, serialized audiobook on Apple Podcasts.
Past projects for kids include The Hacker’s Key, which Kirkus described as “imbued with tech know-how, covert ops, and heart-pounding action scenes.” Kelley is also the author of several Young Adult novels, including Misfit (2011), which Holly Black called “a diabolically delightful paranormal about a teen girl discovering her inner strength and power — and her potential for darkness”. Man Made Boy (2013) was a Junior Library Guild selection and shortlisted for the Inky Reader’s Choice Award in Australia. io9.com said “If Man Made Boy hasn’t been optioned for a film or at least a CW series by the end of the year, we can be assured that Hollywood has actually forgotten how to read.” The audiobook, which Kelley recorded for Random House’s Listening Library, was named Best Fiction Read By Author for Publisher Weekly’s Listen-Up awards. The sequel, This Broken Wondrous World, also a Junior Library Guild selection, was published August, 2015. Their short stories have appeared in publications like ChiZine and Baen’s Universe, and more recently in anthologies such as GRIM from Harlequin Teen and Summer Days and Summer Nights from St. Martins Press.
They currently live with their teenager, their cat, and their dog, just outside Washington DC.
