Leigh Bardugo

Author Leigh Bardugo developed a love of language from her grandfather, a voracious reader, who raised her and encouraged her to write and tell stories.

Because her mother worked full-time, Author Leigh Bardugo sometimes worked on her reading on her own, picking harder books as she went because she yearned to be a better reader.

We all want to see ourselves reflected in the books we read, the characters we get to know as we turn each page. The same was true for Author Leigh Bardugo as she grew up.

Author Leigh Bardugo understands the power that mirrors and windows in books can give readers of all ages to see themselves and others more deeply.

Author Leigh Bardugo found that being on her feet all day, not writing for a living, gave her the energy and desire when she got home to focus on her own writing.

Author Leigh Bardugo cannot start writing a book without a good outline, what she calls a map or a skeleton.

Author Leigh Bardugo believes that the best books—whether fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, or any other genre—have a strong sense of place, so much so that the world in that book is as alive as the characters.

The system of magic in Author Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy is called the “small science,” basically a magical, molecular chemistry.

Author Leigh Bardugo says that writing a first draft when can feel like an awkward first date … you have to ask your characters questions and feel them out to see where they want to take you in the story.

Author Leigh Bardugo believes that humor grounds her characters and when bad things happen to them her readers care more deeply.

Long before the 2017 movie came out, Author Leigh Bardugo grew up watching cartoons and the TV show about Wonder Woman.

Author Leigh Bardugo believes that no matter our age or experience, we are all looking to see ourselves in the stories of resilience like through a hero’s journey.

Author Leigh Bardugo is excited to say that more and more young adult novels out there are featuring heroes and victors who can be anyone. Hero’s stories belong to everyone and these books are telling their readers: “Go out and conquer!”

Author Leigh Bardugo sees the ripples on the pond from her books that include characters with learning differences or autism when she talks to students at schools and libraries.

Author Leigh Bardugo says that writing short stories is a totally different process and experience for her than writing her fantasy novels.

Author Leigh Bardugo believes that our culture and media give young people a skewed idea about how the creative process works.

Author Leigh Bardugo likes to leave her endings somewhat open—no tidy bows, no epilogues—because not only may she want to return to the story with another book but her readers need to have places they can go in their minds with characters and stories.

Author Leigh Bardugo reads and excerpt from her Shadow and Bone Trilogy.