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Kelley Skovron

Kelley Skovron is the author of over a dozen books for adults and young readers. Their novels for adults include the Empire of Storms trilogy (Hope and Red, Bane and Shadow, Blood and Tempest) which has been published in nine foreign territories, and the Goddess War trilogy (The Ranger of Marzanna, The Queen of Izmoroz, The Wizard of Eventide). Their middle grade and young adult novels include the G.I. Joe Classified series, The Hacker’s Key, The Ghost of Drowned Meadow, Man Made Boy, and This Broken Wondrous World. Their next middle grade horror, No Filter, will be published in February 2024 by Scholastic. Kelley’s short fiction for young readers has appeared in anthologies such as Grim and Summer Days and Summer Nights, and their work has been published in ChiZine and Baen’s Universe, among others. As J.S. Kelley, they are the author of Gutter Mage. They live just outside Washington, D.C. with their two sons.

Agent

Jill Grinberg

No Filter

From the author of The Ghost of Drowned Meadow comes another haunted tale that’s as touching as it terrifying.

Janessa “Jinx” McCormick loves photography because it’s like real life, except she can make it perfect. She never takes selfies because she doesn’t want to be in her own pictures. Her pictures are perfect. She is anything but. But one night as she’s touching up a new photo before posting it, Jinx sees…something sitting on the floor in the background of the image. Something she’s certain that it was not in the frame when she took the shot.

The figure is too dark and hazy to see exactly what it is. It looks roughly human-shaped, but only roughly. And soon Jinx notices something even more unsettling. With each new shot she takes, the figure is always there.

And it’s moving closer to the camera.

Publisher

Scholastic

Publication Date

February 6, 2024

Age Category

Middle Grade

Genre

Horror/Mystery

Rights

JGLM

The Ghost of Drowned Meadow

A haunted mystery that explores the little-known history of Fascism in the US. After moving to a new home in an unfamiliar town, a girl discovers her house is haunted by the vengeful ghost of a young boy who drowned while trying to escape a Nazi indoctrination group.

It began with the sound of dripping water. A quiet but insistent tap that only Morgan seemed to hear.

When Morgan witnesses some eerie happenings in her family’s new home, at first she shrugs them off. But as the unsettling dripping noises—and the sounds of someone crying outside her window—become more frequent, she starts to get nervous. Then a local kid named Anthony tells her the story of Joseph Klaus, a boy who drowned in the 1930s while trying to flee home from his summer camp. Home… to Morgan’s new house.

Morgan can’t help herself. She begins researching the Klaus boy, and in doing so uncovers the little-known history of the German American Bund, a Fascist organization known for indoctrinating children and forcing them into child labor. Klaus wasn’t escaping from any old summer camp.

He was fleeing American Nazis.

Publisher

Scholastic

Publication Date

September 20, 2022

Age Category

Middle Grade

Genre

Horror/Mystery

Rights

JGLM

G.I. Joe Classified (#1)

A page-turning action-adventure story awaits middle-grade readers in this exciting new series featuring G.I. Joe

In this action-packed series starter, a group of ordinary kids finds themselves facing extraordinary circumstances . . . and with the help of mentors like Duke, Scarlett, and Roadblock, they’ll find what it means to be a team, rise to the occasion, and save the day when nobody else can. A heart-pounding thrill ride from start to finish that will enthrall G.I. Joe fans and action-adventure readers alike.

Praise for G.I. Joe Classified

“A buoyant adventure combining colorful characters, a brisk pace, and cyber acumen.” —Kirkus

Publisher

Amulet Books

Publication Date

July 26, 2022

Age Category

Middle Grade

Genre

Action/Adventure

Rights

ABRAMS

G.I. Joe Classified: Revenge of the Ninja (#2)

The dynamic second installment in the exciting, action-adventure middle-grade series featuring beloved and all-new characters from the world of G.I. Joe

In the next installment in this action-packed series, a group of ordinary kids finds themselves facing extraordinary circumstances yet again. The Average Joes may have stalled Cobra’s nefarious plans, but Springfield is still in trouble. Continuing the story where Stan, Julien, Zoro-me, and Scarlett left off, this heart-pounding thrill ride will enthrall G.I. Joe fans and action-adventure readers alike.

Publisher

Amulet Books

Publication Date

July 11, 2023

Age Category

Middle Grade

Genre

Action/Adventure

Rights

ABRAMS

The Ranger of Marzanna (The Goddess War #1)

Sonya is training to be a Ranger of Marzanna, an ancient sect of warriors who have protected the land for generations. But the old ways are dying, and the rangers have all been forced into hiding or killed off by the invading Empire.

When her father is murdered by imperial soldiers, she decides to finally take action. Using her skills as a ranger she will travel across the bitter cold tundra and gain the allegiance of the only other force strong enough to take down the invaders.
But nothing about her quest will be easy. Because not everyone is on her side. Her brother, Sebastian, is the most powerful sorcerer the world has ever seen. And he’s fighting for the Empire.

Praise for The Ranger of Marzanna

“Skovron does an admirable job balancing large-scale and interpersonal conflicts, and strong supporting characters and cultural specificity add texture. This is epic fantasy done right.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“[The] world-building is solid, the action is nonstop, and Skovron’s overall character development is exceptional (especially when it comes to the female main characters, who are all brilliantly multidimensional and identifiable)….An undeniable page-turner that will have readers salivating for the next volume of this projected trilogy.” —Kirkus, starred review

Publisher

Orbit

Publication Date

April 21, 2020

Age Category

Adult

Genre

Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

The Queen of Izmoroz (The Goddess War #1)

Sonya has brought a foreign army to free her country from imperial rule, but her allies may have other goals in the second book of this thrilling epic fantasy trilogy from Jon Skovron.

The first battle is over, but war yet looms on the horizon. Sonya and her allies–the foreign Uaine and their armies of the undead–have beaten the imperial soldiers and ousted them from Izmoroz. Now they have the rest of the empire to free.

Meanwhile, betrayed by his sister, his homeland, and his fiancé, Sonya’s brother the famed wizard Sebastian has retreated with the imperial forces. But another traitor is waiting in the capital, and enemies of the throne may hide in plain sight…

Publisher

Orbit

Publication Date

April 20, 2021

Age Category

Adult

Genre

Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

The Wizard of Eventide (The Goddess War #3)

In the thrilling conclusion to Jon Skovron’s epic fantasy trilogy that began with The Ranger of Marzanna, allies and enemies alike must band together to defeat an evil on a scale never before seen—and this time, the Gods are on the battlefield.

As Vittorio’s empire enacts its bloody reign, the Uaine now behind him after a stunning betrayal, a reunited Sonya and Sebastian must embark on a journey to distant lands to amend past wrongs—and find unlikely allies along the way.

In far Raiz, Jorge has his hands full enough with the devastation the Empire left behind. But the battle isn’t over, and the sovereignty of his nation will depend on his ability to band together the ancient houses—and recruiting a figure straight out of legend.

Galina, now Queen of Izmoroz, rules her land with an iron fist in a velvet glove. But heavy is the crown, and enemies lie in wait both within and without her dominion. To realize her vision for a free Izmoroz at last, she’ll have to fight with much more than politics.

Publisher

Orbit

Publication Date

July 12, 2022

Age Category

Adult

Genre

Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

Gutter Mage

J.S. Kelley weaves epic fantasy and hardboiled noir in this fast-paced, twisting tale of magic, mystery, and a whole lot of unruly behavior.

In a kingdom where magic fuels everything from street lamps to horseless carriages, the mage guilds of Penador wield power equal to the king himself. So when Lord Edmund’s infant son is kidnapped by the ruthless Alath Guild, he turns to the one person who’s feared by even the most magically adept: Rosalind Featherstone, a.k.a. the Gutter Mage.

But as Roz delves into the circumstances behind the child’s disappearance, she uncovers an old enemy from her traumatic past and a long-brewing plot that could lead to the death of countless innocents, as well as the complete collapse of Penadorian society itself!

Praise for Gutter Mage

“I adored Gutter Mage. It was a unique and fun read, and I’m already crossing all of my fingers and toes that there will be a sequel. Pretty please?” –Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks

Publisher

Saga Press

Publication Date

September 21, 2021

Age Category

Adult

Genre

Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

The Hacker's Key

A thrilling cyber-doomsday action/adventure novel that’s Ally Carter meets Gamer Army.

Ada Genet’s father, Remy Genet, was one of the most infamous criminals in the world, specializing in infiltration, theft, and cybercrime. For as long as she could remember, she had been his accomplice. She helped him steal secrets from governments, weapons from terrorists, and money from just about everyone.

But the law finally caught up with them after they brazenly infiltrated the Pentagon and made off with the source code for a new missile guidance system. Her father ended up in prison and she ended up at a military boarding school, a ward of the US Federal Government.

Now something called the Hacker’s Key has been stolen from a secret UN installation. This Key could supposedly shut down every computer, smartphone, and internet-connected device simultaneously, causing mass chaos around the world. A Techno-Doomsday.

The Feds think Ada’s father has something to do with the theft, though he’s been in prison this whole time. When Remy claims he’ll speak to no one but his daughter, Ada is drawn back into a web of crime.

Praise for The Hacker’s Key

“Skovron’s spy thriller reads at a breakneck pace, imbued with tech know-how, covert ops, and heart-pounding action scenes.” –Kirkus

Publisher

Scholastic

Publication Date

September 1, 2020

Age Category

Middle Grade

Genre

Action/Adventure

Rights

JGLM

Hope and Red (The Empire of Storms #1)

Hope’s old life ended the night her entire village was massacred by the emperor’s forces. Now, trained in secret by a master warrior, her new life is centered on only one goal: vengeance.

Red lives by the skin of his teeth and sharpness of his wit. An expert thief and a brilliant con artist, he cares for only one thing: a good time. But when the empire’s soldiers start to encroach on his territory, taking down his friends with it, he may have to re-prioritize.

Together, they will take down an empire.

Praise for the Empire of Storms series

“Skovron’s eye for characterization and situations is exceptional… A compelling coming-of-age yarn.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Engaging … [Skovron’s] skillfully developed world, filled with swords and magic, is a perfect foil for his dynamic characters.” –Library Journal

“A great swashbuckling adventure.” –The Sun

“Furious where it needs to be, deceptively tender where it can get away with it, adventurous all around.” –Sam Sykes

Publisher

Orbit

Publication Date

June 28, 2016

Age Category

Adult

Genre

Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

Bane and Shadow (The Empire of Storms #2)

Red is being trained as a cold-blooded assassin by the biomancers. As he becomes increasingly embroiled in palace politics, he learns that even life among the nobility can be deadly.

While terrorizing imperial ships as the pirate Dire Bane, Hope stumbles onto a biomancer plot of such horrifying scope that it makes even the massacre of her childhood village seem small in comparison.

With the biomancers tightening their grip of fear over the empire, Hope and Red struggle to fill their new roles and responsibilities, but the cost will be greater than any of them realize.

Praise for the Empire of Storms series

“Skovron’s eye for characterization and situations is exceptional… A compelling coming-of-age yarn.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Engaging … [Skovron’s] skillfully developed world, filled with swords and magic, is a perfect foil for his dynamic characters.” –Library Journal

“A great swashbuckling adventure.” –The Sun

“Furious where it needs to be, deceptively tender where it can get away with it, adventurous all around.” –Sam Sykes

Publisher

Orbit

Publication Date

February 28, 2017

Age Category

Adult

Genre

Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

Blood and Tempest (The Empire of Storms #3)

Still reeling from the events at Dawn’s Light, Hope struggles to understand what it means to be a warrior who has vowed to never again take up a sword.

Red is enjoying his new role as imperial spy. Perhaps a bit too much. But his loyalties will be tested when his employer, Lady Hempist, relents and assigns him the one task he’s been begging for all along: recruiting Hope and Brigga Lin to help rid the empire of biomancery once and for all.

Praise for the Empire of Storms series

“Skovron’s eye for characterization and situations is exceptional… A compelling coming-of-age yarn.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Engaging … [Skovron’s] skillfully developed world, filled with swords and magic, is a perfect foil for his dynamic characters.” –Library Journal

“A great swashbuckling adventure.” –The Sun

“Furious where it needs to be, deceptively tender where it can get away with it, adventurous all around.” –Sam Sykes

Publisher

Orbit

Publication Date

November 21, 2017

Age Category

Adult

Genre

Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

Man Made Boy

Love can be a real monster.

Sixteen-year-old Boy’s never left home. When you’re the son of Frankenstein’s monster and the Bride, it’s tough to go out in public, unless you want to draw the attention of a torch-wielding mob. And since Boy and his family live in a secret enclave of monsters hidden under Times Square, it’s important they maintain a low profile.

Boy’s only interactions with the world are through the Internet, where he’s a hacker extraordinaire who can hide his hulking body and stitched-together face behind a layer of code. When conflict erupts at home, Boy runs away and embarks on a cross-country road trip with the granddaughters of Jekyll and Hyde, who introduce him to malls and diners, love and heartbreak. But no matter how far Boy runs, he can’t escape his demons—both literal and figurative—until he faces his family once more.

This hilarious, romantic, and wildly imaginative tale redefines what it means to be a monster—and a man.

Praise for Man Made Boy

“Love monsters? If you do, Jon Skovron’s Man Made Boy is for you. If you don’t, why not?” –Kelly Link, award-winning author of Magic for Beginners and Pretty Monsters

“Skovron weaves all things creepy and strange into a tale that is heartwarming, hilarious, and full of memorable characters.” –John Corey Whaley, winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for Where Things Come Back

“Skovron has mastered the beauty, tragedy, and hilarity of the fine line between monsters and men. Read this book and marvel at his creation.” –Andrea Cremer, bestselling author of the Nightshade series

Publisher

Viking Books for Young Readers

Publication Date

October 3, 2013

Age Category

Young Adult

Genre

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Rights

JGLM

This Broken Wondrous World (Man Made Boy #2)

A year ago, Boy, the son of Frankenstein’s monster, had never even met a human. Now he’s living with his human “family,” the descendants of Dr. Frankenstein, in Switzerland. That is, until the maniacal genius Dr. Moreau, long-ago banished to a remote island for his crimes against humanity, asks for Boy’s help.

Moreau wants Boy to join his army of animal/human hybrid creatures and help him overthrow human society. Boy will do anything to save this broken, wondrous world from the war that threatens to split it in two. But how much will he have to give up? And is the world worth saving?

Praise for This Broken Wondrous World

“Skovron’s frenetic pace and ragtag band of creatures will appeal to readers who crave nonstop action.” –Booklist

“Fans of science fiction and humor will enjoy this clever, monster-filled read.” –School Library Journal

Publisher

Viking Books for Young Readers

Publication Date

August 4, 2015

Age Category

Young Adult

Genre

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Rights

JGLM