Brenda Rufener

As a child, I spent wintry afternoons curled up in a corner of my small-town library, reading until the lights signaled closing time. It was on the worn pages of books that I learned kittens could talk, children could fly, and–with enough belief–pumpkins could transform into carriages. In that tiny corner of the library, my imagination bloomed. Little did I know the words I absorbed would help shape my future career. 

After completing a degree in English, I became a technical writer. By day, I wrote education manuals and conducted statistical research. By night, I filled my journals with poetry, song lyrics, and short stories. Most of the words I wrote never saw the light of day.

Then, parenthood happened, and I took the plunge into home education, passing my love of writing to my daughters. Today, I have a senior in college (homeschooled from fifth grade), and an eighth grader I’m currently homeschooling. As my children aged, I found myself digging back into my old journals. Before I knew it, I’d written a manuscript. Then another. Now, I’ve published young adult novels with Harper Collins/Harper Teen–with more in the works! My writing has been featured in the American Library Association, BBC News, Bustle Magazine, and USA Today. 

In those rare moments when I’m not writing or spending time with my family, I enjoy reading, traveling, and exploring the hiking trails in North Carolina and Northern Michigan. I also enjoy snuggling my two rescue kittens (sisters Shelby and Hazel) and well-worn Boston Terrier (Molly).

I’m excited to share my love of words with your curious, creative, and brave writers!