Nan Willard Cappo

Nan Willard Cappo grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the fifth of six children. It was a competitive environment--no Willard likes to lose--and she remembers spirited arguments over who would get to read a favorite book first. After majoring in English at Notre Dame, getting an MBA at Pitt, and working at IBM selling computers, she moved to Michigan with her husband and soon had a competitive clan of her own. She fostered a love of books in her children not least so they would give her time to read. And yes, on several occasions she bought multiple copies of hot new titles just to settle fights--you're welcome, JK Rowling.

In between reading, and working various sales and teaching jobs, Nan wrote fiction. First picture books--they only LOOK easy--then easy readers, and finally, young adult fiction. Her first novel, Cheating Lessons(Simon & Schuster/​Atheneum), had autobiographical touches. The main character Bernadette is a 16-year-old debater who reads too much (it IS possible). It features a high school competition in which somebody cheats, forcing Bernadette to do the right thing--if only she can figure out what that is. The book received a starred review in Horn Book, a Junior Library Guild selection, and was nominated for an Edgar award as Best Young Adult Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America.

In 2011 Nan moved from Michigan back to Pittsburgh, and published her third YA (novel number two is waiting for the right moment to appear). Unaccounted For is also a mystery, but it has a male protagonist, and the target audience is older teens and adults. As soon as it receives awards this page be updated. Meanwhile, she encourages readers to check out the Amazon customer reviews which, so far, are positive. Which is encouraging, as she's writing a sequel.