I write lightly speculative fiction, and am represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary Agency. My home is in Sonoma County, California, where I grew up, and later returned, and now live with my husband and two dogs. We have two sons and lots of family in the area.
My current work in progress, a young adult contemporary with speculative elements, won the SCBWI SF South Golden Gate Conference Award for Novel and was a MG/YA Finalist at the SCBWI SF South Editor and Agents Day 2025. I also have a completed middle grade grounded fantasy, and am co-writing an older middle grade mystery with speculative elements. A lightly speculative adult projec is also in the works. Everything I write tends to be set in our world but with a good dose of weird. I love to read and write coming-of-age stories, and about art in all its forms. My critique group has run Better Books Marin, a craft-based workshop for young adult and middle grade fiction writers for the past ten plus years.
Some favorite reads that have influenced my writing: I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. Some of my favorites growing up: The Secret Garden, The Dark is Rising series, The Catcher in the Rye, and for a long time, any time travel fantasy, preferably set in Europe and ideally involving castles (e.g. In the Keep of Time, A Walk in Wolf Wood).
My day jobs: After the fires that hit our area in 2017, my husband and friends started a residential home construction company specializing in fire-resistant building methods and home rebuilds. I started out as a management consultant in San Francisco. Before moving back to Sonoma County, I was in strategic planning and ran a business unit in the early days at Yahoo!. I’ve done consulting focusing on strategy, marketing research and business plans. I’ve also been involved in several local nonprofits including producing and curating the first seven TEDxSonomaCounty events (see Mac Barnett’s fantastic talk on how kids know way more than adults about reading), and served on the boards of Chop’s Teen Club, Sonoma County Rises, and Sonoma Country Day School.
Shannon Ledger 