Short Bio:
Tanya Boteju (she/her) is an English teacher and writer living on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, Canada). Listen to the correct pronunciation of my name here.
Her novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens (Simon & Schuster, 2019), was named an Indie Top 10 Pick of the Summer by the American Booksellers Association and a Rainbow List selection for 2020. Her short story “Floating” appears in the anthology Out Now (Inkyard Press, 2020), and her newest YA novel, Bruised (Simon & Schuster, 2021), was selected as a Gold Standard book by the Junior Library Guild. Look for another YA novel, Messy Perfect (HarperCollins), and a middle grade nonfiction book about allyship (Orca) in 2025.
Tanya is grateful for her patient wife, supportive family and friends, committed educators, sassy students, and hot mugs of tea. In both her teaching and writing, Tanya hopes she’s bending the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice.
Slightly Longer Bio:
Tanya Boteju (she/her) is an English teacher and writer living on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, Canada).
Her novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens (Simon & Schuster, 2019), was named an Indie Top 10 Pick of the Summer by the American Booksellers Association, a starred review on Shelf Awareness, a Barnes & Noble best YA book of May, a Best Teen Book of 2019 by Indigo, and a Rainbow List selection for 2020. Her short story “Floating” appears in the anthology Out Now (Inkyard Press, 2020). Her new YA novel, Bruised (Simon & Schuster, 2021), has been selected as a Gold Standard book by the Junior Library Guild. Look for another YA novel, Messy Perfect (HarperCollins), and a middle grade nonfiction book about allyship (Orca) in 2025.
Before attempting a writing career, Tanya completed her English and Education degrees at the University of British Columbia, then spent time in New York attaining her Master of Arts through Columbia University’s Teachers College. More recently, Tanya received a Creative Writing Certificate through Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio.
When Tanya isn’t writing, she’s teaching and learning from brilliant high school students, riding her bike, drinking tea, reading good books, and trying to chill out at the cozy cabin her wife built for her.
In both her teaching and writing, Tanya hopes she’s bending the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice.
Tanya is represented by Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC.
