I grew up in Rhode Island and have been writing stories ever since I could tape pieces of paper together. My first “book” was titled Rabbit and Bear, about two unlikely friends who narrowly escape a crazed hunter. Needless to say, it did not win the first grade author competition.

 

For a while I thought that writing was something everyone did for fun. One day when I tried to force my friend to play writing games with me, my mom had to explain to me that sometimes people liked to play non-writing games. So I majored in English, which meant all my classmates liked books as much as I did.

 

When I’m writing:

I write contemporary young adult novels. My debut novel, The Chance You Won’t Return, is going to be published by Candlewick Press on April 22, 2014. I’ve loved YA since I was a teen and am fascinated by this category–it’s all first chances and heartbreak and love and loss and those moments that made you who you’re going to be for the rest of your love.

 

A few must-haves for writing time–lots of water, a cup or two of coffee or tea (depending on time of day), a good writing playlist.

 

I’m a member of the 2014 debut author groups OneFour KidLit (the big group for all your debut goodness) and the Fourteenery (a smaller group of some of my very favorite 2014 debut authors).

 

When I’m not writing:

One of my favorite non-writing activities is cooking/baking. Baking bread in particular makes me feel like a wizard. I also like painting my nails in all sorts of colors (purple! blue! green! yellow! sparkles!), running, watching movies new and old, going to the theater, and blogging about all sorts of writing- and book-related goodness.

 

A few books I love recommending to people are The Giver, Mrs. Dalloway, The Princess Bride, Story of a Girl, The Commitments, Jellicoe Road, and The Scorpio Races.

Annie Cardi

• Website: anniecardi.com/