“Dao is a bright voice in middle grade fiction, crafting characters and plot in a way that feels effortless…A fresh title that weaves elements of sports stories and sci-fi with realism and beautifully developed characters, in a way that makes this story irresistible.” ― School Library Journal, starred review

Julie C. Dao is the critically acclaimed author of many books. Her novels have earned starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly, and won recognition from the Junior Library Guild, YALSA, and the American Library Association. A proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York, she now lives in New England.

Her books for young adults include Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix and Song of the Crimson Flower, which all bring mystical worlds inspired by the Far East to life. Her Team Chu middle grade series are rollicking, action-packed adventures featuring a team of kids ready for any challenge. Her adult novel Now Comes the Mist reveals Dracula’s Lucy Westenra like you’ve never seen her before, in this retelling of the gothic horror classic.

Julie C.'s Featured Titles

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How I Come Up With Book Ideas

This presentation focuses on:

– Where book ideas come from (i.e. movies/TV, books you are reading, story prompts, music)
– The inspirations behind each of my books and series
– How to combine different inspirations, interests, and elements to make a retelling feel fresh and original

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How To Prepare For NaNoWriMo (Or Writing a Novel Fast)

This presentation focuses on:

– The pros and cons of writing a book (50,000 words) very quickly
– Ways in which NaNoWriMo has helped me as a professional writer
– Should you plot a book or write it by the seat of your pants? (Plotter vs. Pantser)
– How to stay motivated and excited about your story
– Tools to “pack” for 30 days of intense novel writing, including word count spreadsheet, research notebook, etc.

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How To Write a Good Villain or Antihero

This presentation focuses on:

– In-depth character study of why villains and antiheroes are the way they are
– Examples of different famous villains with satisfying character arcs, and why they work for us
– The difference between a hero and an antihero
– A debrief on character arcs: ascending (becoming a hero), descending (becoming a villain), and looping (a character who circles back to who they were fundamentally at the start)

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How To Write a Good Fairy Tale Retelling

This presentation focuses on:

– Why are fairy tales so fascinating? Why have they lasted so long and continue to be popular?
– What makes a good retelling, and how to make it feel fresh instead of just another rendition
– Choosing the elements that fascinate you most; subverting them or rewriting for a modern audience
– Making a fairy tale retelling feel exciting with a different main character

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Untold Legends: The Podcast Link

The Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer Podcast Link

88 Cups of Tea Podcast Link

Honors, Awards & Recognition

FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS
A Fall 2017 Junior Library Guild Selection
YALSA’s 2019 Best Fiction For Young Adults Nominee
ALA Booklist’s 2018 Top SF Fantasy & Horror For Youth
New York Public Library’s 2017 Best Books For Teens
ALA Booklist’s 2017 Top 10 First Novels For Youth
Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award Winner
2019 Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee

KINGDOM OF THE BLAZING PHOENIX
A Fall 2018 Junior Library Guild Selection
A Winter 2018–2019 Kids’ Indie Next List Pick
A Fall 2019 Westchester Fiction Award Winner

SONG OF THE CRIMSON FLOWER
A Fall 2019 Junior Library Guild Selection
November 2019 Book of the Month Club’s Main Selection
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year

BROKEN WISH
An Amazon’s Best Young Adult Book of the Month
A Baker & Taylor YA Bestseller

TEAM CHU AND THE BATTLE OF BLACKWOOD ARENA
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2022
A 2023 Children’s Book Council Favorites Award Winner
A 2024-2025 Washington State Sasquatch Award Nominee

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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