Often when I’m on an author’s bio page, it’s because I’m trying to nab their bio for a feature on Go Teen Writers, so if you’re wanting a media-friendly bio or photo, you’ll find it at the bottom of this page.

If you want to know when I have new books coming out, you can follow me on Amazon.com or Bookbub. You can also join my inner circle and sign up to receive emails from me about once a month. Another way we can connect more frequently is on social media:

My favorite people

Visiting Manzanar for the first time

Visiting Astor Street with The Lost Girl of Astor Street

My favorite hike in New Mexico, Kasha-Kutuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

 

Here are 5 somewhat interesting things about me:

1. I’m a list maker. The world just looks better when I have a comprehensive list in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

 

 

2. I live in suburban Kansas City with my husband, Ben, and our three children, McKenna, Connor, and Eli. My husband was also my high school boyfriend. This has definitely shaped me as a writer, and I think it’s one of the reasons I’m drawn to writing books for teens.

 

 

3. The question that I dread the most in interviews is, “Who are your favorite authors?” This ALWAYS makes me panic and my answers sound like I’m downright illiterate. It’s much easier for me to think in terms of favorite books. (Though even that I try to over-complicate. “Well, do you mean young adult? Audio? That I’ve read this year? Non-fiction?”) Here are some of my faves: (A list within a list!)

  • The Harry Potter series. I love them, and I love that I can read them with my kids.
  • The Expanse series. Normally not a sci-fi person, but I can’t get enough of these books!
  • Sarah Dessen: This Lullaby is still my favorite of hers, though of her most recent work, my favorite is Once And For All.
  • Favorite all time books currently are Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (so cliche, I know!) and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
  • Favorite books I’ve read in the last couple years are The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

 

4. My list of hobbies is pretty small. When I have free time, I like to read, cook, and ignore the laundry. I like to make homemade bread and take bike rides. I love going on trips with my family, especially to Lake Tahoe or the southwest. I still have lots of places I want to explore!

 

5. I’ve wanted to be an author since first grade. When I was a teen and pursuing publication, I didn’t know anybody else who wrote. I didn’t have writer friends until my early twenties when I started going to conferences. That’s why I created GoTeenWriters.com, as a place for teen writers to connect with each other and learn about the craft and publishing.

 

 

Bio and photo for Media Purposes:

Stephanie Morrill Low Res

Stephanie Morrill writes books about girls who are on an adventure to discover their unique place in the world. She is the author of several contemporary young adult series, as well as two historical young adult novels, The Lost Girl of Astor Street and Within These Lines. Within These Lines was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, as well as a YALSA 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Since 2010, Stephanie has been encouraging the next generation of writers at her website, GoTeenWriters.com, which has been on the Writer’s Digest Best Websites for Writers list since 2017. She lives in the Kansas City area, where she loves plotting big and small adventures to enjoy with her husband and three children. You can connect with Stephanie and learn more about her books at StephanieMorrill.com, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.