Justine Pucella Winans is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author specializing in queer fiction across young adult and middle grade genres. Their works span humorous and horror-infused narratives, including the YA mystery "Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything," an Indies Introduce selection, and the Stonewall Honor-winning middle grade speculative horror novel "The Otherwoods." Winans' writing has earned multiple starred reviews and recognition such as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, establishing them as a distinctive voice in contemporary LGBTQ+ literature.
A queer writer based in Los Angeles, Winans crafts stories that blend eerie atmospheres with comedic elements, often exploring themes of fear and identity. Their bibliography includes the YA thriller "One Killer Problem" and the middle grade horror novel "Wishbone," showcasing their versatility across age categories. When not writing, they train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, indulge in manga and webcomics, and dote on their Halloween-colored cats, all while maintaining their aspirational pursuit of becoming a Pokémon trainer.