Lesley Kagen is a national bestselling novelist and Milwaukee native. Her debut novel, Whistling in the Dark, published in 2007, is set in a Milwaukee neighborhood and successfully made it to The New York Times Best Seller list. Her writing is known for its unique perspective, often taking on the viewpoints of children or young narrators, which captures their honesty, unique worldview, and enthusiasm.

Kagen’s novels are frequently set in the 1950s and 1960s and revolve around themes such as dealing with loss, family, mystery, discovering truth, the inner workings of a community, sibling bonds, and the dichotomy between innocence and corruption.

Aside from writing, Lesley is also a mother, grandmother, actress, narrator, speaker, and essayist. She currently resides in a charming small town in Wisconsin, living in a hundred-fifty-year-old farmhouse with her dog, Gracie.