Marsha Qualey Follow

Marsha Qualey is an award-winning author best known for her acclaimed young adult novels, several of which have been named to the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults, The New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, and School Library Journal’s Best Books of the Year. A two-time Minnesota Book Award winner and Edgar Award nominee, Qualey turned to her childhood love of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series for inspiration when writing her first adult novel, Venom and the River. Her involvement with the Maud Hart Lovelace Society—dedicated to keeping Lovelace’s beloved books in print—inspired the novel’s exploration of literary fandom and community. A longtime faculty member of Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program, Qualey is now retired and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren while continuing to tell stories that celebrate imagination, friendship, and the joy of reading.