Laini Taylor is an American young adult fantasy author and a finalist for the National Book Award in Young People's Literature. She is best known for her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, Strange the Dreamer, and Muse of Nightmares.

Biography:
Laini was born on December 11, 1971, in Chico, California. She is the daughter of a Naval officer and an orchid witch, and spent her childhood moving through various places including both US coasts, Hawaii, Italy, and Belgium. She later attended the University of California, Berkeley.

Living in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, artist Jim Di Bartolo, their daughter Clementine, and their pets, Taylor is also known for engaging with the online writing community, particularly during the Covid pandemic. She actively participates in writing discussions and shares insights about overcoming perfectionism and creativity on her Patreon.

Works:
Her works have been translated into over 30 languages. The Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy is about a blue-haired art student raised by monsters, a broken angel, and a war in another world. Strange the Dreamer follows a young librarian's journey in a mythic lost city. Her book Lips Touch: Three Times was a National Book Award finalist. Taylor's upcoming novel is highly anticipated by her fans.