Libba Bray

Libba Bray, born Martha Elizabeth Bray, is a New York Times bestselling author. She is known for her The Gemma Doyle trilogy and The Diviners series.

Libba Bray hails from Montgomery, Alabama, but grew up mainly in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her interest in writing was significantly influenced by her childhood and upbringing. Bray's father, a Presbyterian minister and a man with a sharp wit who also happened to be gay, and her mother, a high school English teacher, played pivotal roles in her early life.

Despite experiencing a serious car accident shortly after high school graduation, which resulted in the loss of her left eye, Bray found solace and a powerful outlet in writing.

Bray pursued her education at the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional journey in writing began after moving to New York City, where she initially worked in publishing and advertising.

She attempted playwriting, with some of her works produced and one even winning an award. In 2003, Bray published her debut novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty.

Her notable works include The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Going Bovine, which won the Michael L. Printz Award, Beauty Queens, a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize, and The Diviners series.

Apart from writing, Bray is a member of Tiger Beat, an all-YA author rock band.

Libba Bray is married to literary agent Barry Goldblatt, and they have a son. They reside in Brooklyn, NY, with their two cats.

Photo credit: libbabray.com