Rhonda DeChambeau, of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, was the twentieth participant in the Associates of the Boston Public Library's Writer-in-Residence program in 2022-2023. She spent the year writing the young adult novel, Top Heavy, which features fifteen-year-old Esme, a powerful dancer who feels like she’s going to capsize under the weight of her own chest. Told in verse, this book will examine heart-wrenching teenage struggles with body image, money, a fractured friendship, and threats to hard-fought dreams.

Upon learning of her selection, Rhonda said, "I am over the moon at this amazing opportunity and can hardly believe that it’s actually happening! I am truly grateful for the Associates’ generous support and the judges’ endorsement of my work. It’s always affirming as a writer to have that vote of confidence from an outside entity, especially one like this that carries with it such a rich legacy of talented writers! I am committed to making my time as the BPL Writer-in Residence count and look forward to developing my young adult novel-in-verse so that someday it will land in the hands and hearts of readers."

After reading the project proposal, Meredith Goldstein of The Boston Globe, said "Rhonda DeChambeau’s novel-in-verse is a lyrical, smart, and thoughtful look at family, money, and – most importantly – the complicated relationship we can have with our bodies. I read her draft and kept thinking, “More, please!” TOP HEAVY will give young readers – and the adults in their lives – plenty to talk about. A story teeming with empathy."

Rhonda writes for children and young adults. Her projects span from picture books, novels for middle grade readers, and poetry, to young adult novels. Family connections are at the heart of almost all of the stories she tells. When she isn't writing, Rhonda works as a human resources professional for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She has a degree in English from Harvard University, and she graduated in 2019 with her Masters in Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Rhonda is a lifelong Massachusetts resident, where she lives with her husband and two kids.

Katy Doughty, of Somerville, Massachusetts, was the nineteenth participant in the Associates of the Boston Public Library's Writer-in-Residence program in 2021-2022. As our Writer/Illustrator in residence, she spent the year writing a nonfiction young adult graphic novel, How to Survive the End of the World. The project deals with the potential of an extinction level event for humanity by weaving together perspectives from the fields of biology, engineering, geology, religion, and astronomy. A series of small vignettes takes the reader on a humorous, yet reflective, journey that examines various “end of the world” scenarios.

"I'm half shocked and fully thrilled to have received this fellowship!" Katy said upon hearing the news. "I'm humbled to join the list of talented Writers and Illustrators-in-Residence that the Associates have named throughout the years. This truly is a life-changing program. It's an honor to have such an opportunity to have my work so nurtured and invested in, and I can't wait to develop my graphic novel with the Associates' support."

After reading the project proposal, Gina Gagliano, Publishing Director at Random House Graphic, said “Katy Doughty has a fantastic way of combining information and images – her work is clear and thoughtful, while simultaneously being fun and creative. Her very topical nonfiction project about the end of the human species is a fascinating combination of science and wonder – I can’t wait to see the graphic novel that results!”

After receiving her BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design, Katy moved to the Boston area, where she works as a designer and Media Coordinator at Boston Children’s Hospital. Her work has been published in The Nib, The Lily, and Womenly Magazine. She has a particular interest in the intersection of research, storytelling, and art. Katy is also a Master of Public Health candidate at Boston University, as well as an ESOL teacher.

Ying-Ju Lai, of Brookline, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's eighteenth Writer-in-Residence in 2021-2022. She spent her residency writing a young adult novel, Going to Disneyland, which is a coming-of-age story centered on sixteen-year-old Jiajia “Jacqueline” Liu. She is a “parachute kid” whose parents are wanted by the Chinese government for fraud and bribery. Jiajia's father suddenly appears in the United States, resulting in an adventurous and eye-opening cross-country journey during which Jiajia must come to grips with her parent’s behavior and her own privilege.

Upon learning of her selection, Ying-Ju said "It is an immense joy to have a room to call my own at the Boston Public Library and be in the midst of its venerable traditions, especially after more than a year of social distance and working from home.  In our changed world marked by physical isolation, I feel an even greater sense of urgency to tell my story about a young person's journey and the discovery of the unfamiliar.  I am grateful to the Associates for this remarkable opportunity to focus on my work."

After reading Ying-Ju's proposal, Sian Gaetano, Children's and YA Editor at Shelf Awareness, said "The ripped-from-the-headlines quality of Going to Disneyland mixed with the captivating writing and realistic character development make for an utterly entertaining YA novel. It feels like a wholly original story that should appeal to a vast number of teens with varying tastes. Perhaps most importantly, though, it’s downright fun. I cannot wait to read the whole book."

Ying-Ju grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, before moving to New England for college. She earned a BA in Psychology from Wesleyan University and a MFA in creative writing from Boston University in 2014. In addition to writing, she works as a graduate program administrator at Boston University. Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, Literary Hub, and WBUR. She is also the recipient of grants from the Sustainable Arts Foundation and Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts.

Autumn Allen, of Norwood, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's seventeenth Writer-in-Residence in 2020-2021. She spent her residency writing All You Have to Do—is a historical novel set in April 1968 and the fall of 1995. It tells the story of two generations of a Black, middle-class family in alternating narrative threads. The story follows a college student searching for his place in the Black Power movement by joining a student takeover on campus and a high school senior who tries to change the culture of his prep school amidst controversy over the Million Man March.

Upon learning she had been selected, Autumn said "I have been working on versions of this story for two years, trying to get to the heart of what these characters and their journeys have to tell us. I am thrilled and challenged by the opportunity this residency represents to focus on the intense work required to shape my final draft. I am grateful to the Associates for investing in me and my story. It is a uniquely American story that I hope will add to the ongoing conversations and legacies from which it has grown."

Autumn received her B.A. in Literature from Yale University, her master's degree in Education from Harvard University, and her MA-MFA in Children's Literature and Writing for Children from Simmons University. She spent fifteen years as an educator before returning to her first love, writing, when she saw the need for more books that affirm the identities of her children and the communities she serves.

Shawnna Thomas, of  Boston, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's sixteenth Writer-in-Residence in 2019-2020. She spent her residency writing her YA novel, Salvagers. Set three years after a Great Flood destabilizes the Divided States, Salvagers follows teen survivors Onyx and Andre as they reluctantly team up to rescue their siblings from a high-security, government-funded orphanage.

“Onyx's story started as an exercise and grew from a reflection on who gets to tell and read stories about girls like her,” Thomas said of her selection. “Learning that someone believes in and cares about her story enough to give me the support, funding, and room of my own to fully realize it sent my soul soaring. I am eternally grateful to the Associates of the Boston Public Library for this opportunity and cannot wait to share more of her journey.”

Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Shawnna received her B.A. in English and African American Studies from Yale University in 2015. She is a previous recipient of the Elmore A. Willetts Prize for Fiction, the Second Place Wallace Prize for Fiction, and was the inaugural recipient of the GrubStreet Emerging Writer Fellowship. When she isn't working, she's brainstorming ideas for new writing classes to teach and working on her novel.

Jorge Vega, of Brockton, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's fifteenth Writer-in-Residence in 2018-2019. He spent his residency writing Bottled. His fast paced adventure follows Olivia Chance, a lonely, middle school girl who finally makes a friend only to discover that her new BFF, Amani, is a fugitive genie on the run from an ancient cabal of sorcerers who are hellbent on putting Amani back in a bottle.

“At its core,” Jorge says when describing his project, “Bottled explores the challenges of coping with anxiety and discovering your identity. All while, ya know, fighting off terrifying monsters.”

“Honestly, I didn’t expect to be selected for the residency,” Jorge said when asked how he responded to the news. “I’m still absorbing the reality that I’ve been given the opportunity, space and financial backing to tell a story that's very close to my heart. Bottled is about wonder, fear, and laughter and two girls of color who happen to look and sound a lot like the girls I grew up with-- a lot like the ones who are growing up in my home right now. These are voices and characters that are rarely seen outside of books about oppression or racial strife and I’m so very thankful to the Associates of the Boston Public Library for giving me the chance to share them with readers.”

Born and raised in Queens, NY, Jorge graduated from Connecticut College with degrees in Theater and Education. After teaching theater for several years in Long Island, NY, he and his wife moved to Massachusetts to be closer to family and begin raising their three children. Since moving, Jorge has remained an educator, transitioning from theater to technology. “It’s not as big of a jump as people think,” Jorge says. “They’re both focused on discovering human connections within artificial settings.” He currently serves as the Director of Information & Instructional Technology at Prospect Hill Academy. Over the years, Jorge has also self-published several graphic novels and taught courses in writing comic books at Grub Street, one of the premiere writing centers in Boston.

Laura Rees, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's fourteenth Writer-in-Residence in 2016-2017. She spent her residency writing Sunset Sultan, the story of Sultan Ferry, the last baby born after a global fertility crisis stops human reproduction in its tracks.

From the moment Sutlan pops out of the womb, an entire population lives vicariously through the hit reality TV show Sunset Sultan, projecting their ideas of a perfect “last life” onto him. Introverted, self-reflective, bald-since-birth Sultan, at age sixteen, wants nothing more than to crawl out from under the media’s thumb. Pursuing wild conspiracy theories with his best friend, the two boys stow away to South America in search of children rumored to be living in the Amazon, hoping that such a discovery will divert the media’s attention once and for all. Sunset Sultan addresses the undeserved, often self-inflicted pressure to “perform” that permeates today’s teen culture, highlighting the importance of introspection, true friendship, and authenticity in the face of overwhelming media messaging.

“No words can capture how excited I am to be chosen as the 2017–2018 Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence,” said Laura, upon learning she had been chosen. “I can’t imagine a more fulfilling way to spend nine months than writing the book of my dreams, putting down roots in Copley Square, and collaborating with likeminded people who inspire and push me. My deepest thanks to the Associates of the Boston Public Library for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dedicate focused time, attention, and finances to my book. Being trusted with the task of not just writing a novel but writing one that speaks to teenagers—the generation that will carry us into the future—is an honor, and a humbling one at that.”

After receiving her B.A. in English from Malone University, Laura lived in Hawaii for two years before moving to Boston in the harsh winter of 2013. She now lives in Cambridge, MA and is pursuing an ALM in Literature and Creative Writing from Harvard University. She has worked as a scribe, freelance editor, creative writing teacher, and ghostwriter.

Lisa Rosinsky, of Boston, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's thirteenth Writer-in-Residence in 2016-2017. Lisa spent her residency writing Robin & Mariana. Her novel tells the story of Robin Chen, a butch poet from Baltimore, and Mariana Gomes, a high-school dropout from Berkeley. They meet online, fall in love, and run away from home to meet exactly halfway across the country—mdash;in rural Nebraska. Lisa describes the novel as a "queer, modern-day Robin Hood retelling about privilege, social justice and survival."

Upon learning that she had won the residency, Lisa remarked, "I am deeply honored that the Associates of the Boston Public Library have given me not only their vote of confidence but these incredibly valuable resources—time, space, and funding—to research and write my next novel. To write for children is to help shape the minds of the next generation: to encourage kids to learn, ask questions, and change the world. I can't imagine a more exciting calling in life. And I can't thank the Associates of the BPL enough for this amazing opportunity to make a difference. The Boston Public Library is my favorite place in the entire city and I am thrilled to be able to call the BPL my home-away-from-home for the next year."

Lisa earned a B.A. in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University and a M.F.A. in creative writing from Boston University. Her debut YA novel, Inevitable & Only, is due out from Boyds Mills Press in October 2017. Lisa's stories have been published in Highlights and Cricket, and her poetry appears in Prairie Schooner, Measure, Hunger Mountain, 32 Poems, and other journals. She has worked as a freelance writer and editor, a yoga teacher, and as one half of a traveling two-person production of The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Jennifer De Leon, of Milton, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's twelfth Writer-in-Residence in 2015-2016. De Leon is the editor of Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education and her short story "Home Movie" was selected as the Boston Book Festival's city-wide One City One Story in 2015.

Jennifer spent her residency writing Volar—the story of Liliana, a 14-year-old girl whose family moves from a working-class Latino neighborhood in Boston to an affluent, predominantly white suburb after her father gets a promotion. Liliana, who soon changes her name to Lili, tries to fit in to her new school and neighborhood. Adjusting to her surroundings, Lili learns to value her home culture while discovering her own path.

After learning she had won the residency, Jennifer remarked, "Walter Dean Meyers once wrote that he suspected his many readers found in the pages of his books a recognition of themselves, a validation of their existence, and an acknowledgment of their value by someone who understood who they were. With the generous space, time, and funds provided by the Associates of the Boston Public Library, I am eager to tell my story so that perhaps someday soon others can find something of themselves in my pages, too. This award gives me energy, encouragement, and hope. And I am so grateful."

She graduated from the MFA in Fiction program at UMASS Boston and currently teaches at Grub Street. Jennifer was recently profiled in the Boston Globe.

UPDATE: The young adult book that Jennifer wrote as part of our program was published in August 2020 with a new title Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From. Learn more via this book talk.

Natalie C. Anderson, of Charlestown, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library's eleventh Writer-in-Residence in 2014-2015. Natalie explained that to her "the fellowship is more than just a place to work and a stipend, it's a call to arms. The sense of momentum makes you realize you can actually do this. And the knowledge that you're being trusted to be a "real" writer - you just can't put a price on it."

Natalie has a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in International Studies, African Studies and Political Science, and received her MSc. from the University of Oxford in Forced Migration. Although she lives in Boston, you can also sometimes find her in the mountains of North Carolina or Nairobi, Kenya. She has spent the last decade working with refugees around the world, mainly Africa.

During her residency, Natalie wrote young-adult novel titled Rules for Thieves. In the novel, Tina's mother is killed by a ruthless criminal businessman, leaving Tina to take care of herself the only way she can that doesn't involve getting pregnant-by becoming a thief. A good one. And as a thief she can finally infiltrate her mother's killer's world and get what she wants most. Revenge.

The Boston Globe recently profiled Natalie Coward Anderson in an article titled BPL Writing Fellow Launches a New Career.

UPDATE: Rules for Thieves was published in 2017 by GP Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, under the title City of Saints and Thieves. You can read the first chapter in this USA Today article.

Annie Hartnett of Newton, Massachusetts was the Associates of the Boston Public Library’s tenth Writer-in-Residence, for the year 2013-2014. Upon her selection, Hartnett said, “I can't tell you how much it means to have the Associates of the BPL's support behind my novel. What a magnificent opportunity! And what a wonderful world we live in that there is still strong support for working writers. I just feel so unbelievably lucky that my character's voice resonated with you all, and I can't wait to share more of her story with you.”

During her residency, Annie wrote write Rabbit Cake. In her novel the main characters are learning to cope with their mother’s strange and tragic death: drowning while sleepwalking. The narrator, Elvis, struggles to stay awake at night to protect her slumbering older sister—another sleepwalker— from harming herself or others. During the day, Elvis attempts to navigate fifth grade before escaping to her volunteer job at the zoo.

A 2008 graduate of Hamilton College, Annie holds an M.A. degree from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English, and received an MFA in Fiction from the University of Alabama in 2013. While she was at the University of Alabama, Annie also taught undergraduate creative writing and composition courses. Her short stories have been published in various literary magazines, including Unstuck magazine and Indiana Review.

UPDATE: Rabbit Cake was published by Tin House Books in March 2017.

Hollis Shore, of Lancaster, Massachusetts, was the Associates of the Boston Public Library’s ninth Writer-in-Residence, for the year 2012-2013. During her residency she wrote Saved – a story about a young artist on a search for the music within. Upon her selection, Hollis said, “I keep thinking of Claudia and Jamie in From The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, running away to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But this is better; this is a museum with books. I am filled with joy at the prospect of having the inestimable treasures of the Boston Public Library at my fingertips as I write and research my new novel, Saved. The Writer-in-Residence program is unique in the support it offers emerging writers, and it is a great honor to be selected. My undying thanks go out to the Associates of the Boston Public Library for this once in a lifetime opportunity. And I promise not to hide under my desk after closing…”

Hollis earned a B.A. in English at the University of Vermont and a MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Vermont College. Her first novel, The Curve of the World, a historical story set in a small Vermont town at the end of World War II, won a PEN/New England Discovery award.

Sarah Winifred Searle, of Danvers, Massachusetts, was the Associates' eighth Writer-in-Residence, for the year 2011-2012. Upon her selection, she, said "It would be impossible to express my gratitude and joy in receiving the fellowship. Thank you to the Associates from the bottom of my heart. I can't wait to become a part of the community at BPL this upcoming fall, and to finally have the resources to share [my] story with the world." Sarah's graphic novel, Under the Apple Tree, is a ghost story. Set during World War II, a girl must solve the dark mystery that shrouds her home, while handling the trials and tribulations of adolescence during times of great change in American history. Sarah built her foundation in fine arts at Maine College of Art, graduated from Southern Maine Community College with a degree in New Media, and is currently studying Humanities at Harvard Extension School. She found her professional niche as a game artist – a skill that she uses to create a unique storytelling experience.

Elaine Dimopoulos, of Arlington, Massachusetts, was the seventh Writer-in-Residence Fellowship winner, for the year 2010-2011. “I am absolutely thrilled to serve as the [Associates of the] Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence,” said Ms. Dimopoulos. “The inaugural writer-in-residence, Hannah Rodgers Barnaby, was my first writing mentor at Simmons, so I have known for years how prestigious the fellowship is. It is an honor to have been selected; I haven't stopped celebrating since I heard the news. My work-in-progress, ECO-CHIC, monopolizes my thoughts these days, and I'm so grateful to have the time, space, resources, and funds to complete it.”

Elaine is a graduate of Yale, Columbia, and, most recently, Simmons College, where she earned an M.F.A. in Writing for Children. She has taught English at a New England boarding school, an all-boys school in New York City, and an all-girls school in Pennsylvania. She is currently an instructor of children's literature at Boston University. In 2008, she received an Emerging Artist Grant from the St. Botolph Club Foundation. As a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, she writes with a Needham-based SCBWI critique group.

UPDATE: The book that Elaine wrote during her residency was published in May 2015 with an updated title, Material Girls.

Kelly Hourihan, of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, was the Associates’ sixth Writer-in-Residence fellowship winner, for the year 2009-2010. She said, “I want to offer all the thanks in the world to the Associates for selecting me for the Writer-in-Residence program for this coming year. I honestly can’t express how much this means to me as I work towards shaping my career as a writer. Thank you, and thanks to everyone who was part of making the decision; I hope I’ll have the opportunity to thank some of the others personally as well.”

Kelly was born and raised in Roslindale, attended Boston Latin School, followed by Harvard College, where she obtained a BA in English in 2004. She has been trying to strike a balance between writing and “jobs that pay the rent” since then, and is thrilled to have this opportunity to spend the bulk of her time on her writing. Sarah has also spent a good deal of time volunteering, both as a mentor to young adults and as a certified rape crisis counselor. These experiences have informed the writing of Springbound, a contemporary young adult novel focusing on the struggles of a troubled teen in an alternative high school.

Sarah Hamburg, of Somerville, Massachusetts, was the fifth Writer-in-Residence fellowship winner for the year 2008-2009. Upon hearing the news she said, “Thank you so much! I must admit that I am overwhelmed-- and honored-- to have been selected. I am deeply grateful to the Associates for this tremendous opportunity.”

Sarah was born in a farmhouse in rural Vermont, and her family moved to Boston when she was ten years old. She has been trying to balance her dual love of the city and the wilderness ever since. She graduated from Hampshire College with a BA in Literature and Creative Writing, and received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. After completing her undergraduate degree, she spent six months hiking the Appalachian Trail, and later did volunteer work with a crew on the Long Trail in Vermont. Sarah lived for a time in Boulder, Colorado, and returned to the Boston area in 2004. She has spent the last ten years working with children.

Sarah's book, A River Outside, is a middle-grade novel set in the Alaskan wilderness. The story follows Jonah, a quiet and thoughtful twelve year old whose life is closely attached to the rhythms and routines of his natural environment. When his grandparents invite him to stay in the city, Jonah must evaluate the life he has always taken for granted.

Sheryl DePaolo, of Newton, Massachusetts was the Associates’ fourth Writer-in-Residence Fellowship winner for the year 2007-2008. After graduating from The Hartford Art School with a BFA in Ceramics, Sheryl moved to Los Angeles where she worked for nearly a decade in film and television as a costumer.

She returned to the East Coast and earned an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons College. In her own words, Sheryl is “very grateful for the opportunity that the [Associates of the] BPL has given me.” Sheryl’s book Child Star, is a young adult novel about Sofia, a 14-year-old, who returns to her small Connecticut town after a brief career in a TV sitcom. Sofia must now readjust to small town life, her friends and her school after a brush with the fast-paced lifestyle of Hollywood. Through Child Star, Sheryl is excited about sharing some of her Hollywood experiences with a young adult audience. She presently works at The Children's Bookshop in Brookline Village.

Anna Staniszewski, of Brighton, Massachusetts was the third recipient of the Associates’ Writer-in-Residence fellowship in 2006-2007. Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Ms. Staniszewski grew up enjoying stories in both languages.

After receiving a B.F.A. in Theater from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY, she was a Polish tutor in a first grade classroom and worked at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. She earned an M.A. in Children’s Literature, as well as an M.F.A. in Writing for Children from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. Her novel, The Last Story, is about a girl who resides in a closed island community separated from the rest of civilization. The novel explores the way history can change over time and how a society that relies on an oral tradition and maintains strong taboos shapes its own story.

UPDATE: Anna's debut novel, My Very UnFairy Tale Life, was published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in November 2011. This launched a trilogy and was followed by My Epic Fairy Tale Fail (published in March 2013) and My Sort of Fairy Tale Ending (Nov 5, 2013). Anna has also published four books under The Dirt Diary series, three books under the Switched at First Kiss series, and has written two illustrated children's books.

Jane LeGrow of Sandwich, Massachusetts was the second winner of the Writer in Residence fellowship for 2005-2006.

Upon Hearing the news, LeGrow said, “I was very excited and pleased to have been selected by the Associates for this honor. The novel I’m working on is a work of historical fiction set in a women's craft cooperative in Dublin at the turn of the twentieth century.”

Hannah (Rodgers) Barnaby of Brighton, Massachusetts was the Associates of the Boston Public Library’s first Writer-in-Residence. Hannah spent October 1, 2004 through June 1, 2005 writing a novel that was originally titled Gideon and Portia, about a young girl who leaves a work camp for teenagers to follow a traveling carnival. While traveling across the United States with the carnival, the girl, Portia, and her mysterious friend Gideon meet and befriend other performers. Acquaintance with such marginalized and talented people prompts Portia to question the manner in which one society rejects those that don't conform, only to cause them to be accepted by others in similar circumstances.

UPDATE: the manuscript that Hannah wrote during her residency was published in March 2012, by Mifflin Books for Children, with an updated title: Wonder Show.