Kody Keplinger was born and raised in a small Kentucky town. She wrote her first novel, The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend), during her senior year of high school. The DUFF was a New York Times bestseller, a YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and a Romantic Times Top Pick. Since then, Kody has written two more young adult novels, Shut Out and A Midsummer’s Nightmare, and a middle grade novel, The Swift Boys & Me. She is the cofounder of Disability in Kidlit, a website devoted to the representation of disability in children’s literature. Currently, Kody lives in New York City, where she teaches writing workshops and continues to write books for kids and teens.You can find out more about Kody and her books on her website: kodykeplinger.com.
