Vanessa E. Howard writes primarily fantasy stories for middle graders and young adults. She has been a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, and college English teacher. She has sold underwear and cookware (but not at the same time).  A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Realm Makers community, and a goofy writer group dubbed the Cottage, she is also a homeschool mom to four children and teaches at a homeschool co-op. Her short fiction has been published by Havok, Spark, Quill and Flame, and Twenty Hills. Emmett and the Epic Word Searches is her debut novel. 

 When she’s not writing stories or wrangling children, Ms. Howard can be found singing showtunes and worship songs at top volume, using outrageous accents during read-alouds, and attempting (with limited success) to learn sketching and painting.  

She loves butterflies, sunsets, and hot chocolate. She had a pet tarantula named Caroline, she has driven a fire truck in a pasture, and once an airplane landed in the field behind her house. If you would like information about these events, or her work as a writer (which might be less interesting, but more relevant), please send her a message. 

 She lives on a couple of brambly acres in Central Texas with her punster husband, energetic children, two needy cats and a hound dog.

She can be found on Instagram as @writervanessa, Facebook as Vanessa E. Howard-Writer, and at her website vanessaehoward.com.