Kelly Parra, Author

Kelly (Lynn) Parra’s earliest stories were told with paintbrushes, but upon discovering the drama, forbidden love, and danger of romance and suspense novels, those paintbrushes were replaced with a keyboard.

Now a multi-published author, she has created memorable characters such as a graffiti artist, a psychic teen, and a tough undercover narc. A two-time RITA finalist, she divides her time between her novels, freelance writing, and the adventures of motherhood, where she juggles her home life with two children, a tattooed husband, a sweet poodle, and a stealth turtle.

Kelly debuted into young adult fiction in 2007 with her Latina novel Graffiti Girl, garnering attention as a double nominee for the Romance Writers of America RITA award, and chosen for the California High School Reading Collection and National Book Foundation "BookUpNYC" program. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and co-author of the popular young adult blog, YA Fresh.

On a more personal note...

Kelly enjoys writing entertaining stories--a simple statement for a simple person such as herself. Her love of stories began visually through movies. She would cheer for the characters she grew up with, movies that left a compelling impression on her at a young age. (That is why she is especially thrilled that one of her books could one day be adapted for the screen.)

Kelly strives to write stories that make readers feel, smile, to want to turn the page, or even shed a tear. Overall she sketches characters with words that you might want to know in real life and to cheer on against the bad guys.

That's what she's writing now.

What Others Are Saying About INVISIBLE TOUCH

"A magical blending of mystery, romance, and deep and dangerous secrets. Kelly Parra's Invisible Touch is an action-packed coming-of-age novel, sure to keep readers turning pages and begging for a sequel." -- Laurie Faria Stolarz, Bestselling author of Blue is for Nightmares and Deadly Little Secret

"My daughter's favorite gift for Christmas was her second copy of Invisible Touch. Her fav book, the first copy was getting ragged." -- Michelle, Parent of Teen (via Twitter)

"You are really going on a personal journey with Kara. You’re following her as she tries to figure out the signs, sure, but the whole time she’s trying to figure out herself. Trying to figure out how to balance the person she wants to be with the person her mother expects her to be. Trying to live a life where her father is remembered. Trying to eat the occasional forbidden carne asada taco. Trying to be more open with her best friend, to figure her brother out, to fall in love for the first time. And to a certain extent it’s about race relations, especially the divisions that can arise between people of the same heritage who are separated by economic status or location or the portion of their heritage that’s full-blooded. It’s about being in a gang, and then not being in one anymore. It’s about breaking free of what’s expected of you and reaching out for everything you want.." -- Kidliterate

"This book shows that when you're always looking to the future, you often forget to deal with the past. An amazing, touching novel that deals with big issues in an original context." Golden Star of Excellence ~ TeensReadToo Reviewer, Lauren Ashley

What Others Are Saying About GRAFFITI GIRL

"With characters as bold and exciting as the art they love, and an honesty that keeps them raw and real, Graffiti Girl shows us that the only thing better than discovering your talent is finding yourself along the way." ~ Jenny O'Connell, author of Plan B and The Book of Luke

"My 13-year-old daughter loved this book. In fact, it's one of the few paperbacks my daughter has refused to pass on to a friend. [...] Kelly Parra has definitely won over this family." -- Teen Parent (via Amazon)

"'Graffiti' a strong debut novel for teens - Five out of five gold pens for "Graffiti Girl.'" ~ The Salinas Californian Reviewer, Robert Walch

"Kelly Parra writes with the keen eye of an artist. Graffiti Girl is warm, gutsy, and true-to-life -- an unflinching, honest portrayal of young adults. A seamless and impressive debut." ~ Anne Frasier, USA Today bestselling author of Pale Immortal

Memberships

Romance Writers of America (RWA)

Contributing essay to the forthcoming CRUSH anthology edited by Because I Love Her author Andrea Richesin, an anthology of 20 essays on the joys and pain of first love, to Ann Leslie Tuttle at Harlequin.

Film Rights Option: Kelly Parra's GRAFFITI GIRL, a struggling young Latina artist looking for acceptance is torn between two Latino boys -- one with a beautiful eye for detail and an upscale street address and the other who lives in her neighborhood and who uses the streets as his canvas, optioned to Lucy Mukerjee of After Dark Films, by Michael Cendejas at the Lynn Pleshette Agency, on behalf of Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency.

Novels
Invisible Touch, October 2008, MTV/Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster)
Graffiti Girl, May 2007, Published by MTV/Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster)

YA Fresh
A fresh blog for readers of YA fiction for all ages, where we spotlight teen flicks, authors, and of course, books! Visit YAfresh.blogspot.com for great YA fun.

Honors
Invisible Touch
* Given the Golden Star Award of Excellence by TeensReadToo
* Recommended by Color Online for "Hispanic Heritage Month" Reading List 2009

Graffiti Girl
* Film Rights optioned to Lucy Mukerjee and Shelley Brown of Mukerjee-Brown Productions
* Recommended by the The California Latino Legislative Caucus for Reading Education
* Chosen for the California Readers 2009 High School Reading Collection
* 2008 RWA Double RITA finalist for Best First Novel & Young Adult Novel
* Selected by the National Book Foundation for the "BookUp NYC" program, promoting reading with middle grade students.
* Latinidad 2007 Best Latino Young Adult Book Pick
* Selected by a VIT (Very Important Teen) as a page-turning read in TEEN magazine. (Winter 2008)

For interest in forthcoming Young adult projects or availability of foreign rights, please contact:

Kelly Parra
kellyparra@earthlink.net
www.KellyParra.com