The short bio. . .
Kelly (Lynn) Parra’s earliest stories were told with paintbrushes, but upon discovering the drama and forbidden love of romance and suspense novels, those paintbrushes were replaced with a keyboard.
Now a multi-published author, she has created memorable characters such as a graffiti artist, a psychic teen, and a tough undercover narc. A two-time RITA finalist, she divides her time between her novels, freelance writing, and the adventures of motherhood, where she juggles her home life with two children, a tattooed husband, a sweet poodle, and a stealth turtle.
The longer bio . . .
Kelly Parra is a California writer, and the author of multicultural teen and adult fiction. Her young adult novels, Graffiti Girl (MTV/Gallery Books, 2007), and Invisible Touch (MTV/Gallery Books, 2008), are included in the California High School Reading Lists by the California Readers Organization, and her novel Graffiti Girl is part of the National Book Foundations’ “BookupNYC” program, encouraging middle grade students to read. Her works have also been nominated for honors such as Latino Young Adult Novel Top Pick by Latinidad®, Best Young Adult for Romance Writers of America®, and the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award.
Kelly’s teen works are known for including familiar aspects of her California community, and invoking positive messages that young readers can relate to. Her books have been featured in the newspapers: Salinas Californian, Monterey Herald, and the Monterey Bay Ink, and several on-line literary websites. Published authors and reviewers have touted Kelly’s books as “compelling,” “exciting,” and “page-turning.”
Criminal Instinct is Kelly’s debut into adult fiction as a launch title with Carina Press. New York Times Bestselling author, Dianna Love, says,“Kelly brings a distinctive voice and style to her intense suspense novels that sucks you in from page one.”
Kelly resides in her hometown near the Monterey Coast, and is currently writing her next novel. Discover more of her writing at www.KellyParra.com.
+ CAREER HIGHLIGHTS +
2011. Kelly’s short story “Graveyard Soul Sucker” is published in a Halloween themed anthology titled DEADLY TREATS, edited by novelist, Anne Frasier and published by Nodin Press.
2010. INVISIBLE TOUCH is recommended for the 2011 California High School Reading Collection.
2010. CRIMINAL INSTINCT hits digital stores in June of 2010, published by Carina Press!
2009. Kelly joins Carina Press, becoming a launch author for the new E-press with CRIMINAL INSTINCT, her debut into adult fiction.
2008. Kelly is featured in the Monterey County Weekly and the Salinas Californian reviews INVISIBLE TOUCH in October of 2008.
2008. INVISIBLE TOUCH, Kelly’s second novel, is published by MTV Books in October 2008.
2008. GRAFFITI GIRL is nominated for the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award.
2008. GRAFFITI GIRL is chosen for the 2009 California High School Reading Collection.
2008. GRAFFITI GIRL is a double RWA® RITA® finalist for Young Adult Romance and Best First Book.
2008. The National Book Foundation chooses GRAFFITI GIRL to be part of the “BookUpNYC” program.
2008. GRAFFITI GIRL is recommended by a V.I.T. (Very Important Teen) as a “page-turning” read in TEEN magazine, Winter 2008 issue!
2007. GRAFFITI GIRL is named a 2007 Latino Young Adult Novel Top Pick by Latinidad® in December ’07.
2007. Kelly is featured in the Monterey County Herald and the Monterey Bay Ink in July of 2007.
2007. GRAFFITI GIRL is given a “Five out of Five Gold Pens” review in the Salinas Californian in June of 2007.
2007. Kelly’s debut Young Adult novel, GRAFFITI GIRL, is published by MTV Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster in May 2007.
+ QUICK FACTS +
- Kelly is happily married to a wonderful man, and has two awesome kids. She has an expanded pet family of a turtle, a poodle, and her latest addition, a pit bull.
- It took about 3.5 years for Kelly to sell her first book.
- Graffiti Girl is not the first book Kelly wrote. Criminal Instinct is actually the first book she completed and later sold to Carina Press.
- Although some individuals think she was one as a teen, Kelly was never a Graffiti artist. She was simply a teen artist with a dream very much like her character, Angel Rodriguez.
- As a published author, Kelly has had to overcome serious shyness. She loves to attend author events, but is still working on becoming a better public speaker.
- Kelly is multicultural. Her nationalities are Mexican, Filipino, and Italian.
- Watching TV shows is one of Kelly’s favorite pastimes. Some of her favorite shows (past and present) are: Chuck, Supernatural, Veronica Mars, Big Brother, Life Unexpected, NCIS, Dark Angel, Bones, Moonlight, Gilmore Girls, SVU, and My So Called Life.
