H.P. Holo grew up in a family where it was dangerous to say, “I’m bored.” She’s also an incorrigible smart aleck. So when her parents told her to fix her boredom by reading a dictionary, she did. And then, just to be extra sassy, she began writing novels that required them to keep that dictionary handy.

Her first published ode to smart aleckery was YA fantasy The Wizard’s Way (with Jacob Holo), which readers have called everything from “quirky and fun” to “a veritable love letter to steampunk fans” to “2 stars. A book.” Her most recent series is GameLit fantasy comedy Monster Punk Horizon, which readers have called many exuberant things, but especially “redonkulous.”

Between those milestones, H.P. has practiced varying degrees of smart and aleck. She briefly taught 8th Grade English Language Arts before realizing she didn’t care to aspire to that level of sainthood. She thus left to work for her local library system, where she spent a decade as, variously, Page, Clerk, Teen Assistant, and now that she writes full time, frequent haver-of-overdue-fees.

When not writing her latest novel, H.P. enjoys procrastinating, drawing to the soothing sounds of The Great British Baking Show, saying nice things to her kitchen garden (especially the blueberries; they’re always a little sad), fangirling over terrible movies, and arguing that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is, in fact, the most perfect movie ever made.

She lives in South Carolina with her husband, a bunch of plants, and a cat who thinks exactly as much of herself as she deserves.

Reading: Jacob and H.P. Holo