John Opalenik

John Opalenik experienced firsthand how a chance meeting with the right book can change a reader's life, when his father's friend gave him a stack of X-Men comic books as a Christmas gift and suddenly, reading went from being a chore, to being a catharsis, a joy, and a way to connect. He always seeks to use his writing to give other readers the same experience. 

John Opalenik is an author and educator from Connecticut, with over twelve years of experience teaching students ages 8-12, which gives him quite a bit of insight into how the middle-grade audience finds a new favorite book. He is excited to work in the middle-grade space not only to release fantasy novels, but to help create educational materials that align with teaching standards and can make his novels a staple in many classrooms. 

In addition to his work as an educator and middle-grade author, John also writes horror for adults and is an active member of the HWA, most recently serving as convention chair for Stokercon.