Brandon Hoàng is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Gloria Buenrostro is Not My Girlfriend, and the middle grade books The Crossbow of Destiny, Minecraft: One Last Quest, and Avatar the Last Airbender's The Kyoshi Warriors.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brandon grew up coveting The Baby-Sitters Club books and slurping phở noodles. Before he was a writer, Brandon was as an animation executive. Now a television writer by day and novelist by night, he currently resides in the PNW.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH READING... 

Growing up, my Saturdays consisted of slurping noodles at a local pho joint followed by a trip to Powell’s. I used to spend hours in the Rose Room (the children’s lit section). Each visit, I was allowed to pick out one book, and I took that decision very seriously.  

Every Christmas, I looked forward to finding a Newbery Award Winner in my stocking. Although, much to my parents’ dismay, sometimes I would trade in the classics for the latest RL Stine.

THEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH WRITING... 

My mom used to bring home reams of used printer paper where I’d write and draw my own books. I’d bind them with staples and sell them to my neighbors for a quarter. I think I made ten bucks one summer.

After graduating from college with a degree in Sociology, I packed my bags and left for Los Angeles. I started off as an assistant at Nickelodeon Animation Studios and climbed the executive ladder. During the day, I was a Creative Executive and at night, I would plug away on my own manuscripts.

I even curated a popular dating blog (remember blogs?). That’s how I met my wife.

WHEN I’M NOT READING OR WRITING

I play a lot of video games, doodle in my diary, scour the library with my daughters, and laugh a lot with my wife. I’m proud to say that I’ve won a handful of Halloween costume contests.

I believe you can tell a lot from a person based on which Sideways Story was their favorite. Mine was the one where the boy got to get a tattoo for his birthday present, and he ultimately picked a potato. Take from that what you will.