Meet Celia Perez

author of Strange Birds

Have you ever won any awards, writing or otherwise?

I have won a few awards in my lifetime, but one of my favorite honors was winning third place in a local newspaper's scary story contest when I was in high school. The title of my story was "The Black Rose". Scary! I was also my school spelling bee champion when I was in the 6th grade! 

What’s the best writing advice you ever gave or got?

Great ideas and inspiration can come from anywhere. My go-to book for writing advice is Maira Kalman's picture book, Max Makes A Million, about a dog who dreams of being a poet in Paris.

Have you ever had any hilarious/horrible/awesome jobs?

I'm a librarian! The library was my favorite place as a kid, so being able to spend my days in one is a dream.

What is your favorite Chicago deep dish pizza? 

 Burt's in Morton Grove! Caramelized crust!

What is Strange Birds about?

Strange Birds is the story of what happens when a mysterious invitation brings four very different girls together. They don't hit it off right away and the girls have to figure out how to look past their differences in order to challenge an outdated tradition in their small Florida town. It's a story about friendship, activism, adventure, history, community, standing up for what you believe in, questioning traditions, small revolutions, and, of course, birds!

About Celia

Celia Perez likes drinking coffee, eating brownies, playing with her dog, watching her son play sports, reading ghost stories, collecting things in jars, and writing about weirdos and outsiders. She is the author of Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers and The First Rule of Punk. Her favorite color is black. She grew up in Miami, Florida and now lives in Chicago with her family. Visit her online at www.celiacperez.com.