In middle school, Calissa Ding was the kid constantly holed up in her room with a book. Now a young adult, she draws on her Chinese-American heritage and fresh perspective on growing up to write stories kids can see themselves in. In her free time, she can be found hunting for matcha soft serve, touring the local thrift stores, or playing Chopin’s nocturnes on the piano. She also enjoys working with youth, both as a piano teacher and as a ministry volunteer.

Calissa graduated from The Author Conservatory, a three-year college alternative for writers, with a certificate in Creative Writing & Publishing and a certificate in Business & Entrepreneurship.