Rocky Callen

Rocky Callen is a dedicated author, known for her impactful work in the field of young adult fiction. Born to an Ecuadorian immigrant, Callen has been an advocate for various causes from a young age. She interned at NASA at the age of 12, started lobbying congress at 13, and wrote and produced student radio stories at NPR at 14. Callen's passion for service and advocacy has continued throughout her life, as she has worked as a behavioral therapist for over a decade.\n \n Callen received her MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and currently resides outside of Washington, DC with her husband, daughter, and baby boy. In addition to her work as an author, Callen is also the founder of the Bleed Ink Foundation, a creative hub and resource center for writers. She is also the driving force behind the HoldOn2Hope Project, which brings creatives together in support of suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Callen's debut novel, "A Breath Too Late," has been well-received, earning recognition as a Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year and a Chicago Public Library Best Book. It was also featured in The Mujerista's list of the ten best young adult books by Latinx authors in 2020.