Tonya Kuper

Short Bio:

Tonya Kuper writes young adult novels. She first fell in love with reading in elementary school, which eventually lead to earning a BA in Elementary Education and a MS in Reading Education, but she never thought she’d write a novel, let alone several. When Tonya isn’t writing, she teaches Young Adult Literature Writing Workshop at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is on faculty for the University of Nebraska at Omaha MFA low-residency program. Tonya laughs as much as possible, loves music, and nerds-out over Star Wars and all things pop-culture. She lives in Omaha, NE with her husband and two rad boys.

The longer version:

I grew up in an itty-bitty town in rural west-central Illinois and graduated with only 35 other students. And I loved it. I was in everything musical (band, choir, swing choir), all clubs, plays, yearbook, and a cheerleader. I have a BA in Elementary Education and a MS in Reading Education. I met my husband at a small college in Illinois and he later brought me back to his home state of Nebraska, where I’ve lived since. I live in Omaha, which contrary to popular belief, is quite metropolis. I have two boys who are sweet and witty and so entertaining. I’ve been a stay-at-home-mom since my oldest was born and am now a work-at-home-mom.

My passion for reading began when I was young and earned Pizza Hut Book-It gift certificates. I started with the James Howe Bunnicula series, The Secret Garden, The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary, and Sarah, Plain and Tall. Then came Anne of Green Gables, Babysitter’s Club, and Little Women. I worked my way up to The Catcher and the Rye, Stephen King, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula in high school. It was during my Masters program where I fell love with young adult literature because it didn’t really exist when I was in high school. (Man, that makes me sound old.) I’ll read just about every genre, children’s and adult, fiction and nonfiction.

Random stuff about me:

I LOVE music. I’m an alternative/indie/rock music junkie. I go to as many concerts as possible. But I’m also a fan of pop, rock, country, EDM, and just about every other genre. I love to get new music recommendations!

I adore accents, be it Irish, English, Southern, Canadian, whatever – probably because I have no accent at all.

My boys and hubs have mad gaming skills. I have none. Zilch. (‘Rainbow Road’ on Mario Kart may as well be called ‘Watch Tonya Fall to Her Death Over and Over Road.’)

I’m bit of a Star Wars nerd.