"Henry has become a leading light in YA mystery." - Booklist
"April Henry’s crime dramas are consistently smart and satisfying.” - Kirkus
"Sure to delight fans of mystery, suspense, and a little horror."- School Library Journal
"Legendary mystery author Henry is back at it again" - Barnes & Noble blog
"Another one to add to the collection of Henry's fast-paced thrillers." - YALSA
"You can't go wrong with an April Henry book." - Teen Librarian Toolbox
"April Henry’s crime dramas are consistently smart and satisfying.” - Kirkus
"Sure to delight fans of mystery, suspense, and a little horror."- School Library Journal
"Legendary mystery author Henry is back at it again" - Barnes & Noble blog
"Another one to add to the collection of Henry's fast-paced thrillers." - YALSA
"You can't go wrong with an April Henry book." - Teen Librarian Toolbox
One-stop shopping for signed, personalized books
If you would like one of my books signed, and personalized, my neighborhood bookstore Annie Blooms now has a dedicated page: https://www.annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books.
School visits in the Houston area
Behold the cover for my 2026 book
My 2026 book is about Tessa, a high school senior. When she turns 18, her best friend El gives her an Ancestry test. Ever since they were kids, El and Tessa have wondered about Tessa's biological parents. And after Tessa gets her results, Victor, her biology lab partner offers to help her and El uncover the truth.
Tessa eventually figures out who her mom is, but her dad is a complete mystery. When she uploads her DNA on GEDMatch, law enforcement is alerted. While they don't know her biological father's name, they know what everyone calls him: The Portland Phantom. He's a serial killer who has strangled seven young women in the past sixteen years.
Tessa eventually figures out who her mom is, but her dad is a complete mystery. When she uploads her DNA on GEDMatch, law enforcement is alerted. While they don't know her biological father's name, they know what everyone calls him: The Portland Phantom. He's a serial killer who has strangled seven young women in the past sixteen years.
Stay Dead honored
Stay Dead has been honored as a Young Adult Literature Honor Book by the Oregon Spirit Book Award Committee.
School visits in the Boston and Baltimore areas
With Angeline Boulley at Powells September 5
I have the best job in the world
School visits in Sutherlin, Oregon
School visits in upstate New York
School visits in the greater St. Louis area
Ideas for promoting a school visit to students
|
|
|
A visit to one of my criminal relative's graves
When I realized I was going to be speaking in Greenwood, Arkansas but staying in Ft. Smith, I asked the school staff if there was any way we could visit my great-granduncle Shepherd Busby’s grave, which is in Ft. Smith. They not only obliged, but they also took me to the (reconstructed) gallows where he met his end in 1892.
Shepherd was married to my great-grandma’s sister, Mary Ann Bond, but he also married or lived with many other women. A former marshal who rode with Hangin’ Judge Parker, Shepherd himself ended up murdering the marshal who had been sent to arrest him for adultery. He was sentenced to death. The first hangman, George Maledon, known as “The Prince of Hangman,” refused to hang Shepherd because they had both fought in the Civil War. A second hangman was quickly found. (Maledon’s refusal was notable. He executed more men than any other executioner in U.S. history.)
Shepherd was married to my great-grandma’s sister, Mary Ann Bond, but he also married or lived with many other women. A former marshal who rode with Hangin’ Judge Parker, Shepherd himself ended up murdering the marshal who had been sent to arrest him for adultery. He was sentenced to death. The first hangman, George Maledon, known as “The Prince of Hangman,” refused to hang Shepherd because they had both fought in the Civil War. A second hangman was quickly found. (Maledon’s refusal was notable. He executed more men than any other executioner in U.S. history.)
I won an Edgar!
|
|
On May 1, I attended the Edgar Awards, which are like the mystery version of the Oscars. The event is hosted by the Mystery Writers of America, and the judges are your peers - other mystery writers. And my book, Girl Forgotten, won!
|
What the TSA really cares about
On my way home, my suitcase got pulled aside for further inspection by the TSA. Not because of the handcuffs in my carry-on (I demonstrated how to get out of them at a meeting with my publisher) but because of the unusual shape and size of the bust of Edgar Allan Poe. They even swabbed him for explosive residue!
Ideas for school visits (one tongue-in-cheek)
TV interview in Washington State
I love to do school visits
I have already visited two dozen schools this school year, and would love to add your school to the list! School visits are a great way to get students interested in reading and writing. For the 2022-23 school year, I visited 39 schools and spoke to thousands of students (and dozens of teachers and librarians).
I love to visit schools and share with students the joys of reading, writing, and research. I also talk about the vital importance of tenacity.
To learn more, check out my school visit page. I book all my speaking engagements through TheBookingBiz.com.
I also love to go to teen book cons, literacy conferences, and to programs at libraries and for librarians.
I love to visit schools and share with students the joys of reading, writing, and research. I also talk about the vital importance of tenacity.
To learn more, check out my school visit page. I book all my speaking engagements through TheBookingBiz.com.
I also love to go to teen book cons, literacy conferences, and to programs at libraries and for librarians.
How to feel like a rock star
|
|
School visits in Quad Cities, Iowa
School visits in Nashua, New Hampshire
Celebrating my 29th and 30th books!
This summer I finished final edits on my May 2024 book, Stay Dead. It's about Milan, who is the only survivor of a plane crash meant to hide evidence of bigger crimes. The only way she can stay alive is to stay dead.
A few weeks later, I turned the first draft of my 2025 book, When We Were Missing, into my editor. That book, which will be my 30th, is about a girl who finds a camera card filled with photos of hundreds of teen girls.
Wanting to do something fun to celebrate, I dyed my hair purple with Overtone, which will eventually wash out. I'm also thinking of trying blue. And it certainly beats the last time I finished a project, when I "treated" myself by deep-cleaning the kitchen.
A few weeks later, I turned the first draft of my 2025 book, When We Were Missing, into my editor. That book, which will be my 30th, is about a girl who finds a camera card filled with photos of hundreds of teen girls.
Wanting to do something fun to celebrate, I dyed my hair purple with Overtone, which will eventually wash out. I'm also thinking of trying blue. And it certainly beats the last time I finished a project, when I "treated" myself by deep-cleaning the kitchen.
School visits in El Paso, Texas
School visits in Arkansas
School visits in Beaverton, Oregon
School visits in Orland Park, Illinois
Six District Compact Reading & Writing Festival
Ohio school visits
Texas Library Association Conference
School visits in St. Louis
Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Conference
Library and school events in the greater Omaha area
Signed books make great gifts!
Want to buy a signed book with a personal dedication for yourself or someone else? Just contact my local bookstore: AnnieBlooms.com. They'll contact me and I'll come down to sign. They have a a special page just for ordering my books: https://www.annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books
Taking my Brazilian jiujitsu on the road
|
I love to do Brazilian jujitsu (think wrestling plus chokes plus joint locks) and try to roll at a local school whenever I do school visits. Every school has its own special way of doing things - and with luck I can pick up a trick or two to try at my regular schools in Portland.
|
|
The things I do for research!
Best Note Ever from a Middle School Teacher
Just wanted to let you know for a 3rd year in a row you are making my life easy – and creating a bunch of new readers. I am still lucky enough to teach an advanced reading class along with my Intensive class and across the board your books are the motivators. Here is one of the book projects done by one of my 7th graders! I can’t keep enough copies of your books on my shelf. |
|
