Julianna Baggott

Julianna Baggott is a critically acclaimed, bestselling author known for her versatility across genres, having published more than twenty books under her own name and the pen names Bridget Asher and N.E. Bode. Her novel "Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders" was named a "New York Times" Notable Book of the Year in 2015, while "Pure," the first installment in her dystopian trilogy, earned the same distinction in 2012 and received an ALA Alex Award. Her works span adult fiction, young readers' literature, and poetry, with over one hundred foreign editions published worldwide. Baggott’s writing has appeared in prominent publications such as "The New York Times", "The Washington Post", and "Best American Poetry", and she has been featured on NPR programs including "All Things Considered" and "Talk of the Nation".

Baggott’s career began early, with her first novel, the national bestseller "Girl Talk," published in her twenties following an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She further established herself with "The Boston Globe" bestseller "The Miss America Family" and the historical novel "The Madam," inspired by her grandmother’s life. Under the pen name Bridget Asher, she authored acclaimed titles like "The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted" and "All of Us and Everything," the latter named among "People" magazine’s Best New Books. As N.E. Bode, she wrote the popular "Anybodies" trilogy, a "Washington Post" Book of the Week, alongside other children’s novels such as "The Prince of Fenway Park."

Beyond fiction, Baggott has published four poetry collections, including "Lizzie Borden in Love," and her work has been featured in "Poetry" and "The American Poetry Review". An associate professor at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts, she teaches screenwriting and previously held the William H.P. Jenks Chair in Contemporary American Letters at the College of the Holy Cross. Alongside her husband, David Scott, she co-founded the nonprofit Kids in Need – Books in Deed, promoting literacy among underprivileged children in Florida.