Heather Richard

As a former English teacher and librarian in a vocational school, Heather Richard has pulled poetry out of plumbers and helped a classroom of unruly tenth graders become first-time authors of a collectively written novel. She holds an M.F.A. in writing for children and recently served as a selection committee member for the 2023 YALSA Best Teen Nonfiction Award. Her experience in both publishing and fine arts (she spent her young adult years as a glassblower) informs her appreciation for the spectrum of book-making: from traditional and hybrid publishing to limited print runs, portfolio books, and one-of-a-kind codices. She has taught writing for more than two decades, and is the owner of Story Catching Studios, a feminist production company where she serves as a book coach for authors, artists, and activists.